Office of Civilian Defense worker help protect nation's capital. Nerve center of Civilian Defense communications. A message center keeps constantly in touch with developments throughout the city by telephone and radio. A vital part of civilian defense work is the proper handling of trouble calls, assignment of crews to troubled areas and the passing on of orders for prompt action. One operator is connected with the first aid center, one with the decontamination squad, one with the disaster unit and another with the emergency service division. Girls shown at work in the message center of central alarm system, Washington, D.C