Building on studies of the status of local operational planning and readiness conducted in prior years, a technique and program were developed for providing on-site assistance in local communities during fiscal year 1972. On-Site Assistance is the top priority program of the Defense Civil Preparedness Agency. The program is designed to help local governments (counties, cities, towns) access their existing level or readiness to conduct coordinated operations in both peacetime and attack-caused emergencies, and then to take specific steps to improve their emergency readiness. The program involves direct on-site effort by teams of State and DCPA Regional professionals working with local officials. The On-Site Assistance Program requires that civil preparedness be viewed as a total preparedness effort. on-site assistance is basically a people-oriented program, emphasizing planning, organizing, training, and exercising; and requiring some shift in approach and attitude from the more hardware-oriented programs of the 1960's. (DCPA, Civil Preparedness - A New Dual Mission, 1972, p. 7)