The partial meltdown of Unit 2 at Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in Londonderry Twp., Dauphin County, happened on March 28, 1979.
A cooling mechanism malfunctioned and a general emergency is called a Three Mile Island in Londonderry Twp., Dauphin County on March 28, 1979.While most people were still asleep just before 4 a.m. on Wednesday, March 28, 1979, a malfunctioning valve set off what would become “the most serious accident in U.S. commercial nuclear power plant operating history.”
3:53:09 – The reactor scrams, or stops the nuclear fission process by automatically dropping 67 control rods to mesh with the tubes of enriched uranium that form the reactor core. 3:57:30 – A control room technician shuts down the first pump on the ECCS after either misreading or getting false readings from his instruments. A second pump was tripped about six minutes later, completely halting the last line of defense against overheating.
6:50 – Plant officials first begin to realize the seriousness of the situation and that radiation may have escaped into the atmosphere. A site emergency is declared. 10:20 – Bill Gross, a Metropolitan Edison Co. public relations representative reads a statement from Gary Miller, the station manager, reporting on the problem in technical terms and saying that radioactive monitoring teams have found nothing on or off-site.
12:15 p.m. – A news conference is held at the Friends Meeting House in Harrisburg by Dr. George Wald, a 1967 Nobel prize winner, and Dr. Ernest J. Sternglass, director of radiological physics for the University of Pittsburgh. Sternglass calls for the plant to be shut down and Wald says any radiation can cause harm.
9:00 – York County Civil Defense director Leslie Jackson puts phase 1 of the nuclear disaster plan for the county into operation, primarily to “stop the panic,” caused by unconfimed reports of evacuation. 10:35 – Thornburgh’s press secretary Paul Critchlow indicates there is “no need to evacuate” but says the governor has warned people within a 10-mile radius of the plan to stay indoors and close their windows.11:15 – President Jimmy Carter telephones Thornburgh and offers his assistance. A siren goes off in downtown Harrisburg causing some panic.
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
A’s keep reunion tour going, bring Jed Lowrie back againLowrie will keep his third stint in the green and gold going for another season.
Read more »
Lowrie returns to Oakland A’s hoping to surprise againLowrie struggled at second base last season and was seen taking groundballs at first base Saturday.
Read more »
Cardi B, Trevor Noah and More React After Will Smith Slaps Chris Rock at Oscars 2022Celebrities, Fans React to Will Smith Smacking Chris Rock Over Joke at the Oscars
Read more »
Candemic: How COVID upended beer packaging for local breweriesShortages and spiking aluminum prices, pandemic-induced kinks in the supply chain and new minimum-order requirements from a major can producer have complicated what used to be a straightforward ordering routine for those in the canned beverage industry.
Read more »
Every Restaurant Opening and Closing This Week, March 19-25A Smashburger with a full bar...and yes, another chicken joint! How many of these new spots will you try?
Read more »