DOWNWINDER
Brief summary: From the 1940s to the 1960s, the United States government conducted hundreds of above-ground atmospheric nuclear tests in both the United States (Nevada and New Mexico), as well as in the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. To compensate persons, or their surviving family members, who contracted certain types of cancer or leukemia, the U.S. government created a program which is administered by the Department of Justice.
The program is called the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA). Those persons who lived “downwind” of the test sites, or relatives of deceased family members who lived downwind, may receive compensation in the amount of $50,000.
QUALIFICATIONS FOR DOWNWINDERS:
PRESENCE
To qualify, the victim must have lived for at least 24 months between January, 1951 and October, 1958, or for the entire period between June 30, 1962 - July 31, 1962 in one or more of the following areas:
COVERED AREAS:
Nevada: Lander, Eureka, White Pine, Nye, portions of Clark County
Utah: Millard, Beaver, Sevier, Piute, Wayne, Iron, Garfield, Washington, Kane, San Juan
Arizona: Coconino, Apache, Gila, Yavapai, Navajo, and the Arizona Strip (northern portion of Mohave County)
COVERED CANCERS
The victim must have contracted one of the following cancers or leukemia:
PRIMARY CANCER OF THE:
Pharynx, Thyroid, Female Breast, Male Breast, Small intestine, Pancreas, Ovary, Salivary Gland, Lung, Esophagus, Stomach, Brain, Urinary Bladder, Bile ducts, Liver, Colon, Gall Bladder
Leukemia, other than chronic lymphocytic leukemia
Multiple Myeloma
Lymphomas, other than Hodgkin’s disease
Documents to Establish Presence: (can include documents from relatives that were living in the same household)
Tribal enrollment cards
School records for: 24 months from 1951 - 1958 OR 1961-62, and 1962-63
Employment Records
Birth and Marriage Records
Personal Letters or Envelopes
Tax Records (Property Tax rolls)
newspaper Articles
Social Security Records
Voting records
Personal Diaries
Church/Religious Records
Medical Records
