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CHAPTER VI, SECTION 2

SECTION 2
PROTECTIVE MEASURES
Precautionary procedures were published
and put into effect for all test events. These
included siren signals, colored lights and flags,
clearly marked points and routes for assembly

and embarkation purposes, and a loud speaker
system which included a count-down for each
event. Every precaution was taken for each

event to ensure the safety of personnel. Prior
to each event, a bulletin was given bedside distribution which properly informed personnel of
the time, place, and name of the event, and of
precautions to be taken.

During the evening before a scheduled
event a loud speaker-equipped. jeep was driven
through the occupied areas of Elmer and Nan.
The announcer covered all essential information
necessary for safe and orderly conduct during
the event, including a reminder about the colored
light and flag signals mounted on the water

towers at these sites. An announcement was also
made at the theatre just prior to the show. The
operation of this system was as follows:

personnel were cautioned by loud speaker to

proceed to the assembly areas, where the countdown announcer issued safety instructions ap-

plicable to each event. Guardscirculated through
all living quarters after the H minus 30 minute
signal to clear the quarters. During the 15 minutes prior to H-hourall instructions were issued
over the count-down system. At the H minus 1
minute siren all personnel were instructed to
put on their high-density goggles or face away
from the direction of the blast. Depending on
the type of event, additional instructions were
issued to ensure safety of personnel and proper-

ty;

for instance, instructions for additional

clothing for protection from thermal radiation,

for sitting down to observe shot, for bracing
of structures, and for locating personnel at
places removed from danger of wave action and

falling objects. At the ‘‘all clear” signal or post-

ponement announcement, all personnel cleared

SITE ELMER

the areas as instructed. The prompt and enthusiastic cooperation by all personnel indicated
their awareness of the necessity of strict enforcement of regulations to ensure a safe Operation.

GREEN LIGHT ON — Event scheduled
for Eniwetok Atoll will go as scheduled.

Protective measures were taken at all sites
prior to each event. These measures provided for

RED LIGHT ON — Event scheduled for
Eniwetok Atoll has been postponed.
YELLOW LIGHT ON — Event scheduled
for Bikini Atoll will go as scheduled.
YELLOW LIGHT OFF — Event scheduled
for Bikini Atoll has been postponed.
SITE NAN

GREEN LIGHT ON— Event scheduled

for Bikini Atoll will go as scheduled.

RED LIGHT ON — Event scheduled for
Bikini Atoll has been postponed.
YELLOW LIGHT ON — Event scheduled
for Eniwetok Atoll will go as scheduled.
YELLOW LIGHT OFF — Event scheduled
for Eniwetok Atoll has been postponed.
Note: The use of colored flags was coinci-

dental with the system of colored lights.

At H minus 45 minutes on the day an event
was scheduled for early morning, a fire truck
covered the occupied areas of the camp with
its siren blowing to ensure that all personnel
were awakened. At H minus 30 minutesall

protection of not only permanentfacilities, but

also semi-permanent and expendable construction necessary for support during subsequent
events. Each situation presented specific re-

quirements and was handled accordingly. For
instance, at a camp where occupancyor re-entry
was planned, the protective measures included

bracing, guying, and removing broad surfaces
to protect facilities from blast effects, while at
camps to be abandoned the main concern was
salvage and removal of property and equipment
which might be used in future Operations.

Significant factors which in all probability

would have caused extensive damage to permanent facilities at Sites Fred, Elmer, and David
were: (1) predicted overpressures resultant from

YELLOWWOOD, OAK, PINE, and PINYON
events, and (2) the predicted wave heights in

consequence of the OAK, PINE, and PINYON

events.

To alleviate possible blast damage to permanent structures, a joint study was made by
the Home Office Structural Engineering Section
and the Home Office Blast Study Group. This
study resulted in the internal and external bracing and guying of manybuildings and structures.
For protection against possible wave damage,
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