Three Mile Island 40th anniversary — what’s ahead?
This March marks the 40th anniversary of the partial meltdown at the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant. WITF is collaborating with PA Post and PennLive on a multimedia, monthlong look at the accident, its impact and the future of TMI and the nuclear industry. That includes new documentary television and radio programs, long-form audio stories, photos, and digital videos. The work will include the voices of people affected as well as community events to engage with listeners, readers and viewers. Follow our coverage all month long.
What to look for on Smart Talk, Friday, March 1, 2019:
The Three Mile Island accident occurred on March 28, 1979. It was and still is the nation’s worst commercial nuclear accident. TMI also was one of the most historic events in Central Pennsylvania — one that everyone living in the region at the time remembers exactly what they were doing and how the next week played out.
That’s one of the aspects of what makes the Three Mile Island incident and aftermath unique — the accident itself occurred on a Wednesday morning, but there were fears in the following days of a complete meltdown of the reactor, a radioactive hydrogen bubble exploding inside the plant, radioactivity being released offsite, evacuations and the health of pregnant women and small children.
WITF is collaborating with PA Post and PennLive on a multimedia, month-long look at the accident, its impact and the future of TMI and the nuclear industry. That includes new documentary television and radio programs, long-form audio stories, photos, and digital videos. The work will include the voices of people affected as well as community events to engage with listeners, readers and viewers.
Friday’s Smart Talk includes a preview of what’s ahead over the next month along with stories from those living near TMI that include the media, educators and activists. We’d also like to hear your stories too.
Mike Williams, WITF’s Multimedia Producer, and Marie Cusick, StateImpact PA reporter.
Did you live in central Pennsylvania in the spring of 1979?
To mark the 40th anniversary of the partial meltdown at Three Mile Island, WITF is working on a series about the accident and its impact. That includes new documentary television programs, radio features and a range of online content.
We want to hear your stories about evacuating the region, why you decided to stay during the emergency, working at TMI, living near the plant, why you attribute health issues to the accident, or any other story related to the incident.
Share your story with us by emailing TMI@witf.org.