In 1946, at the dawn of the Cold War, the U.S. ramped up its tests of nuclear bombs.

Many miles away, the raging might of searing flame, crushing force and deadly radioactive

water is seen falling in a killing mist.

One test site was the American Territory of Bikini Atoll.

Over 12 years, a total of 23 atomic bombs were detonated at and around the chain of islands.

But before it was a nuclear test site, it was home to more than 100 people.

The U.S. government evacuated those islanders ahead of the experiments.

For decades, they were nuclear nomads, hopping from island to island, often facing harsh conditions.

Sometimes, starvation.

Eventually, the U.S. government agreed to set aside funding to help the people of Bikini

and their descendants, descendants like Jesse Elmi, whose grandmother was 15 when she was

forced to leave Bikini Atoll.

Three islands were disintegrated, and they can then go back, it's radioactive.

Jesse now lives in Florida, but she has relied on the funds to help with everyday expenses.

I would be able to get diapers or baby food or whatever.

It would help pay for school books and papers and pens and things like that.

Those payments were dependable, until earlier this year.

In February, we just stopped getting our payments.

You know, the date came up, it passed, and then another two weeks passed by and now it

turned into a month.

And then after that, the next payment, and we're like, hmm, so is there no money anymore?

Something's going on here.

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