Impact of the Three Mile Island Accident as Perceived by Those Living in the Surrounding Community

Abstract

The accident at Three Mile Island Unit 2 on March 28, 1979, presented the world with a unique historical example for study. It illustrated how people react to what the press labeled a “nuclear disease.” This was a “disaster” without noise or evidence of damage. The TMI community could not see or feel or sense anything other than what was transmitted in the form of news reports. Under such circumstances people seem to react to the flavor (upbeat, downbeat) or pattern (relaxing, worsening) of the news reports and particularly on the basis of preconceptions of the risks involved. On March 30th, when approximately one-third of Middletown left the area, many were unable to utilize a logical thought process in arriving at a course of action. Still today, two years after the accident, many residents have mixed feelings about nuclear energy and TMI. It is difficult to accept the fact that off-the-island, for all practical purposes, the accident had no effect. Even more difficult to accept is the conclusion that had the accident progressed further than it did (melt down) the containment would still not have been breeched. There would have been no “China Syndrome.”

President’s Commission on the Accident at Three Mile Island.

Division of Science, Engineering & Technology, Pennsylvania State University.