civil defense

noun

1. plans or activities organized by civilians and civilian authorities for the protection of civilian population and property in times of such disasters or emergencies as war or floods.

Word History and Origins

Origin of civil defense¹

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

One of the worst in Cuba’s history, its catastrophic effects prompted Castro to establish a civil defense system in 1966 that became a global model, according to the United Nations and the charitable development agency Oxfam International.

From Washington Post

While the PBA was the first to secure the city contribution, the annual $75-per-member taxpayer funding for civil defense has been replicated in the contracts that cover thousands of NYPD sergeants, lieutenants and captains.

From ProPublica

In 1990, the army's Civil Defense corps—precursor of today's Home Front Command—handled distribution.

From The Daily Beast

I'd heard sirens like these before -- they test the civil defense sirens at noon on Tuesdays.

From Project Gutenberg

A couple of guys fishing on the lake saw the explosion and called the local civil defense head-quarters.

From Project Gutenberg

A civil defense official brought up a Geiger counter, but no matter how he shook it and rapped on it, it refused to click.

From Project Gutenberg

A nationwide civil defense system now exists in the United States, and is being enlarged and improved constantly.

From Project Gutenberg

The Office of Civil Defense, however, is solely responsible for the validity and accuracy of the information in the handbook.

From Project Gutenberg