- 14 - St. George, we knew that they were exceeding predicted values at that point, yet they were well below hazardous amounts. It was more of a ques. tion of precisely how much higher might the radiation levels rise and how long would it require to take protective actions, We decided to ask the residents of St. George to stay indoors, which they did from about 0930 to 1130 at which time they were released, Later the lifetime exposure at St. George was estimated to be about 2.5 rads from this fallout./> In retrospect, and please be assured that evaluatin in retrospect is much easier than prospect, it would appear that a large fraction of the potential whole body dose was not eliminated by this evas action. Remaining indoors did minimize direct body contamination and in- halation of radioactive debris during the period of time that it was fall to the ground and it did provide a somewhat more controlled situation in the event further action was deemed essential. Again, the decision and action sound simple. 4500 persons involved, spread through the city. at school. business. However, there were ab Hundreds of children wer Cars and trucks were moving about the city on their normal This would be the first time that action would be taken with such a large community and on short notice. Instructions to evacuate im diately might induce a panic with its attendant hazards and would, in fac bring many persons out of their homes, schools, and offices into the open during the time when the fallout was occurring most abundantly. DOEARK actually do more harm than good, yet if action were needed it should come quickly to be fully effective. But was any emergency action really imper tive or what action was best when evaluated against potential risks?