It was a sunny weekend afternoon in March 1979 in the Borough of Newville in western Cumberland County.  I had decided to take advantage of the nice weather by enjoying a friendly game of tennis on the town’s courts.  The game was underway when the Newville Chief of Police drove up in his squad car and shouted, “There you are, we’ve been searching for you. Drop everything and come with me. An emergency meeting has been called for in the Boardroom of the school district administrative office.”

You must remember that in 1979 cell phones were not yet available and it was sometimes a challenge to locate someone in an emergency.  The Police Chief explained to me that due to the potential meltdown of a reactor at Three Mile Island, plans were being made for a possible evacuation of the immediate area near TMI.  As Assistant Superintendent for Business in the Big Spring School District, I was to play a key role in making things happen, along with other emergency organizations.

plans were being made to provide for an evacuation if needed.

Ken Houser

Because of the declared emergency, many of the 663,500 people living within a 20-mile radius of TMI had already left the area.  However, many people remained, and plans were being made to provide for an evacuation if needed.  The Big Spring School District became the focal point of that plan since it is located beyond a 30 miles radius of TMI.  People living in Middletown were to be evacuated to a location that was outside the immediate danger zone.  The uncertainty of a potential nuclear reactor meltdown along with a feared explosion and release of toxic radiation, presented a new situation with unclear outcomes.  However, the urgency was apparent.

Arriving at the Administrative Office, there were already assembled representatives of the Red Cross, the Cumberland County Emergency Office, the Police and other designated persons serving in various capacities.  It should be noted that at that time there were no preplanned procedures for a potential crisis of this magnitude.  However, within a relatively short period of time, a plan was developed to carry out a potential Middletown evacuation if needed.  The plan would be to set up shelter in the Big Spring High School, Middle School and Elementary schools.

many people decided to leave the area out of fear of the worst

The personnel of the school district would make the facilities available.  This was also a challenge that involved custodial, food service, transportation and related requirements.   Involvement would have to be on a voluntary basis since many people decided to leave the area out of fear of the worst.  The Red Cross would oversee the set up of cots and assist with food preparation and distribution.  The Cumberland County Emergency Office would coordinate the various components, including communications.  The Police would oversee traffic control.

There was a degree of uncertainty if people also brought hamsters, parakeets, horses, cows, sheep and pigs.

The adopted plan called for buses to be used to transport the Middletown residents who needed transportation.  The escape route would be via the west bound lanes of the Pennsylvania Turnpike with the exit near the State Police barracks north of Newville.  One issue that presented a challenge was planning for animals that the people would bring with them.  A cat or dog might be a part of the family and would not be left behind.  Members of the high school chapter of the Future Farmers of America volunteered to take on that challenge turning the football stadium into a big kennel.  There was a degree of uncertainty if people also brought hamsters, parakeets, horses, cows, sheep and pigs.

As it turned out the evacuation was not needed as things were brought under “control” at Three Mile Island.  However, what was impressive was how many independent emergency organizations could assemble on short notice, develop a plan and work together to carry it out.  As a result of the TMI incident, detailed emergency evacuation plans were developed and became a part of school and community planning for the future.

Kenneth Houser, Ed.D.
Former Assistant Superintendent – Business (Retired)
Big Spring School District