Chopter 5 EVACUATION and DECONTAMINATION 5.1 EVACUATION OF PERSONNEL TO KWAJALEIN Eight men (first eight in alphabetical order) were evacuated from Rongerik via plane at 1245, 2 March. The remaining twenty men were evacuated via plane at 1800. 5.2 DECONTAMINATION PROCEDURES Upon arrival at Kwajalein, the personnel from Rongerik, the evacuation planes and their crews, were subjected to a thorough decontamination regime. An emergency decontamination area had been established. This area consisted of a large shower room and two buildings for storing contaminated clothing. The buildings and the surrounding area were enclosed with a temporary wall of burlap. Each man took from 5 to 11 showers on 2 March. 5.8 RESIDUAL EXTERNAL CONTAMINATION OF RONGERIK PERSONNEL The preliminary readings of the external radioactive contamination of the Rongerik personnel (on 2 March) ranged from 5 to 250 mr/hr. Following repeated showers, the counts were reduced to from 4 to 25 mr/hr. The decontamination program was continued through 6 March, with readings being made on each succeasive day. These readings are shows in Table 5.1. es 45