216 RADIOLOGICAL CLEANUP OF ENEWETAK ATOLL northwest to 20 knots, with gusts to 30 knots. Sea conditionsin the lagoon became choppy, and heavy rain squalls intermittently swept across the atoll. Reports from the Navy’s Fleet Weather Central in Guam forecag, similar conditions for the next 24 hours. The weather was thought to be resulting from a normal storm system and wasnot considered to be cause for undue concern. However, as a precautionary measure, the Friday Cargo aircraft was grounded at Enewetak. At 1830 hours that evening, a Boston whaler, which was used to carry crews to and from the LCU anchorage in the lagoon, was caught by a heavy swell, parted its mooring at the Enewetak personnel pier and was driven onto the beach. Conditions were worsening and it was decided to leave the crew on the LCU until morning. During the night, another LCU, which wasloaded with 70 tons of contractor scrap from Medren, began to drag anchor wire from its winch drum. The weight of the loaded Lcu gradually overcame the winch brake and, by 2200 hours, the LCU was on the beach. — Weather and sea conditions remained the same through 7 January, except for a brief respite that afternoon. The lull was used to deliver essential supplies to Lojwa Camp via LCU. No damagehad been reported to facilities at either base camp; however,all cleanup operations had come to a standstill. At this point, the weather wasstill believed to be the result of a normal storm system. On 8 January, conditions improved slightly, and two more boat runs were made to Medren in support of scrap removal operations. However, the next forecast from Fleet Weather Central upgraded the system to a tropical depression centered about [50 nautical miles south-southwest of Enewetak, with winds near 26 knots gusting to 30 knots. Hazardous surf conditions of 7 to 10 feet were forecast for Sunday (9 January) and Monday. The tropical depression was expected to pass Enewetak about 0100 hours on Sunday. 78 On 9 January, conditions gradually worsened. The Navy Element secured all beached craft as well as possible. That afternoon, the tropical depression was upgradedto tropical storm status and code named Nadine. At 1545 hours, one of the landing craft at Lojwa Camp broke loose and drifted north. The wind had shifted to the southwest and was coming across the lagoon, building up waves and smashing them directly on the lagoon beachesof the inhabited islands. Winds.rose to 40 knots, and seas rose to 12 feet. The cargo pier, normally 4 to 6 feet out of the water, was under2 to 3 feet of heavy seas. Patrols reported extensive damage through the night. The garbage pier was completely demolished, the personnelpier was damaged, doors were blown away, windows were blownin, and the perimeter road became blocked with rocks carried in by the waves. Power was lost on the south end of Enewetak and personnel billeted there were relocated to the three-story barracks. 79