"Civil Defense as a Peacetime Disaster Agency: Dramatic examples of the value of civil defense in peacetime deisasters continued to accumulate during 1953. As civil defensse participation in recovery efforts after natural catastrophies increased, more and more people began to see that this new partner in national defense, essential as it woulde be in war, could also pay its way in peacetime. At the Federal level, Executive Order 10427 issued on January 16, 1953, gave FCDA [Federal Civil Defense Administration] responsibility for providing assistance to localities stricken by major disasters. This responsibility involved investigating and evaluating natural disasters in the States and recommending to the President whether or not the disaster was of sufficient magnitude to warrant Federal aid. The order named FCDA the coordinating agency for all Federal assistance, when authorized, to stricken areas. Tornadoes, floods, explosions, fires, and countless other emergency situatins across the Nation became the proving grounds for civil defense preparedness. In every case where civil defense workers were at the scene, their contribution to alleviation of the situation, whether of minor or major nature, was indisputable. In many cases civil defense's organization and ability to act quickly and constructively provided the impetus needed to start remedial action in the local disaster involved" (FCDA, 1953 Annual Report, p. 15) "The disasters of 1953 demonstrated that, although in an emergency people are willing and anxious to offer their help, they must have leadership, training, and organization to be of benefit. Civil defense can provide that leadership, training, and organization. The catastrophes of 1953 clearly showed that the same mena nd women who are organized, equipped, and trained to counteract an atomic blast can be effective on the homefrot in times of flood, earthquakes, tornadoes, and other natural disasters". (FCDA, 1953 Annual Report, p. 17).