“Attack Was Mock-up, but This Might Have Happened” from the May 13, 1958 Door County Advocate
Attack Was Mock-up, but This Might Have Happened
A nationwide test “Operation Alert-1958” of Civil Defense administration operations was put into “make believe” or “could be” status Tuesday. A supposed 500 bombers and submarines comprised the attacking group, which dropped 291 bombs on the United States, supposedly hit Milwaukee, Green Bay, Madison, Superior, Kenosha and Racine. An estimated 300,000 were killed and more than 100,000 injured. The toll was cut to these figures by a 2-1/2 hour warning. Under this nation-wide planned attack, what would have been the story in Wisconsin? Here is the story in Wisconsin. You can fill in your own details. Here is the Door county story.
10:10 a.m. Tuesday, May 6. All Out Alert is sounded. Evacuation of all target areas begins. 10,000 people routed to Door county.
12:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 6. A one megaton bomb misses Green Bay but hits Duck Creek. 17,000 people died here from radiation, fall-out, panic and failure to cooperate with the evacuation plans.
Tuesday afternoon. Door county a place of turmoil; 4,000 people to be billeted from Jacksonport south; 6,000 to be sheltered in resort accommodations from Baileys Harbor and Egg Harbor north.
5:50 p.m. Tuesday. Following message received at Door county Civil Defense Headquarters: Estimate radio active fallout from twin cities burst at 0200 north of Baileys Harbor. Evacuate anywhere in Door county to south of Baileys Harbor or take good shelter. Also provide shelter for livestock. Now, 6,000 bewildered people not settled plus existing population of territory of Baileys Harbor and north will be forced to evacuate to the southern half of Door county or take good shelter. All of this before 2 a.m.
7:25 p.m. Tuesday. Message received from CD Headquarters: You are authorized to utilize supplies in your county to feed existing population and evacuees until further notice. Estimated supplies, 20 weeks.
3:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 7. More injured are finding their way into Door county. The following information is received from Civil Defense Headquarters at Stevens Point, Wis., where all state officials are quartered: Employ health plan in your county for post attack situation by ordering all existing hospitals to expand facilities and discharge those patients who can be discharged to provide emergency medical care. Mobilize all organized and equipped mobile medical teams. If emergency blood collecting facilities have not already been activated, they should start drawing type “O” blood. Advise immediately as to present collecting capabilities by 24 hour periods, and units of blood disbursements and expanders on hand. Mobilize all personal assigned to emergency 200 bed hospital and request need for hospital beds for emergency care.
4:45 p.m. Wednesday, May 7. Following message received: Replenishing Unit No. 3 being shipped your care. Each unit contains supplies enough for 1000 units of blood. Each contains 67 cases occupying 274 cubic feet, weighing 3,110 lbs. Arrange transportation to blood collecting center.
Question? Have you visualized the missing details of this story?
Courtesy of the Door County Library Newspaper Archive