History of North America

What is the Federal Civil Defense Administration?

Federal Civil Defense Administration (1950-1958)

The Federal Civil Defense Administration (FCDA) was an independent agency of the US Federal Government charged with coordinating civil preparedness for wartime in the United States from 1950-1958. It was known between December 1950 and January 1951 by the temporary title "Civil Defense Administration" before acquiring the name that remained in use for the following 8 years.

The FCDA was created by President Harry Truman in response to the threat of a Soviet nuclear attack on the United States. The primary mission of the agency was two-fold:

- Establish nationwide warning and communication networks for emergencies

- Organize emergency management structures at the federal, state, and local levels that could be mobilized in the event of an attack.

The FCDA was the predecessor agency to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).