Although it had not been anticipated that evacuation would be required,
plans for such an eventuality had been made - as they should have been in
a good safety plan.
Both aircraft and surface ships were dispatched to
Rongelap and at about H + 51 hours, 16 Rongelapese were evacuated by air
and 48 by surface ship.
rads.>°
Their total whole body exposure was about 175
Although the radiation exposure levels on the Island of Sifo on
Ailinginae Atoll were less than one-half those on Rongelap Island, 18 inhabitants of this island were also evacuated by ship at about H + 58 hours.
They were all taken to the Island of Kwajalein and given the best medical
care, and their needs amply supplied.
They were moved to the Island of Ejit
on Majuro Atoll in June 1954 and returned to their home islands on June 29,
1957.
A full account of the initial medical findings are contained in
reference 3.
Subsequently, annual medical examinations have been made by
Dr. Robert A. Conard and his associates at the Brookhaven National Laboratory
and the results of this outstanding work are reported in reference 4,
By Late in the evening of the second day after the BRAVO detonation,
radiation reports had been received about the Island of Utirik - about 315
statute miles to the east.
It was not as apparent that evacuation was
essential as it was at Rongelap Island since the radiation levels were considerably less,
inhabitants:
There were cogent arguments against evacuation DPRARCHIVES
(a) the estimated radiation doses probably would not exceed
60 rads - even if they remained on the island for a lifetime (b) evacuation