TMI-2: The Entry (first entry inside Three Mile Island reactor building after meltdown) documentary

Short documentary / first-hand account documenting the first manned entry into the TMI-2 reactor building after the partial core meltdown at the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant.

The meltdown of reactor number 2 and the Three Mile Island Generating Station in Middletown, PA was the result of a catastrophic series of events that began on March 28, 1979. Precipitated by mechanical failure and exacerbated by human error, a loss of coolant accident ensued causing over half of the highly radioactive uranium core to melt, and ultimately a release of radiation into the surrounding countryside. 15 months and 24 days after what has become known as the worst commercial nuclear power accident in American history, two volunteers braved the unknown and on July 23, 1980, entered the containment building for the first time since the accident. Bill Behrle, a member of that first two-man entry team recounts the events of that day.

Correction: Bill's recollection notes that a hydrogen detonation occurred 4 days into the accident however the deflagration occurred on day 1.

[nigeldepledge]

"No big deal, " the man says.

And he's right. Three Mile Island was a PR catastrophe of gargantuan proportions. But as a radiological incident, it wasn't very big. Although radioactive material was discharged into the environment, this was low-level activity barely above background. The Containment building did its job : the partially-destroyed reactor core was contained.

[mentalizatelo]

Sunday Night YouTube algorithm says: "Come watch a documentary about Three Mile Island, boy". And here I am. Great production, btw.

[billhannahan]

If the operators simply went out for coffee and doughnuts at the first sign of trouble, the reactor protection system would have done its job, and the plant would be running today.

[johnsmith-qjuh]

Living 12 miles from this accident when it happened, I can tell you the lack of good information is what made it all the more scary. One never knew if they were getting the truth, nor weather the "experts" even knew what was truly going on.

[zeon]

Remember that was an almost brand new power plant when they ruined it. Rate payers probably still paying for this.

[stevesloan]

Real heros never think of themselves as heros or heroic. This man is a hero, as far as I'm concerned.

[mkgreen]

My dad designed and made the floating pump to remove the radioactive water. He and another entered into the containment building through a hole made through the concrete onto an I beam 30 ft above the radioactive water. They passed the pump and hosing carefully down onto the surface without it flipping over and got the heck out of there. I don't think the NRC knew before hand the plans to do this.

[ram_]

That accident changed the entire nuclear power industry. I lost my job at a fabrication company.

[DOLRED]

I expected to see Garrett Morris with the mop (SNL).

[mikebaruffa]

Having performed radioactive decon and survey tasks in the past, I understand his 'not that big a deal' comment. In the moment you experience sensory overload with the alarming dosimeters, eerie surroundings... I remember one job where all I needed to do was change a lightbulb in a hotcell... received more than 1R (1000 mR) in that one job.

[dutt_arka]

Amazing Documentary! Subbed. The content is engaging and really high quality

[harrietharlow]

Very interesting documentary. I remember when this happened and how concerned everyone was. I'm just glad that it didn't end up worse.

We had similar to this in Michigan at the Enrico Fermi Nuclear Power Station but at least the whole thing wasn't trashed and I don't think any includes were released in Michigan. Fermi 1 is pretty much history while Fermi 2 has been safely producing power for a thirty five years now.

[drbichat]

Totally cool brave man. Glad he stayed healthy

[lancelessard]

These sorts of coolant dependent systems should never have been built in the first place. It's just asking for trouble. We have much better designs now that don't need constant power coolers.

[jeffreykielwasser]

I remember this. I've been in Fermi 2 picking up electric tooling that was going to another power plant that wasn't nuclear. Still remember the back lash against a nuke plant that was a similar design that was going to be built in Midland Michigan. It never happened, and that plant now I think is natural gas

[TheJMBon]

TMI was far more damaged by the negative publicity than by the actual physical damage and the entire industry was nearly crippled. If not for this event, out reliance on fossil fuel power today would likely be vastly lower. Out of thousands upon thousands of reactors that have been used, only 6 have had major issues and 4 of those only after a very large earthquake and tsunami. 1 more due to haphazard design and no safety culture and then TMI from mechanical failure.

[jamesalinio]

I remember that incident, I was in the 10th grade and everyone at the high School was freaking out LMBO like that a nuclear explosion had just went off, I lived in northern Virginia at the time,

[TheSilmarillian]

How fascinating indeed thanks for the upload

[Calamity_Jack]

A lot of the overreaction/hysteria about this incident by the public and media was due to a movie that came out just days beforehand: "The China Syndrome" was about a nuclear plant that nearly went into meltdown. It was a very scary movie to most people at the time, so when a similar-sounding scenario happened for real, people were understandably on edge. Nice little doc!

[minethegap]

So the dude went for a walk around a meltdown reactor in a wet suit but no Pb to protect him from gamma rays? This is like James Joyce Ulysses “atomic edition”