I worked at the Transportation and Safety building on Forster Street in Harrisburg during the TMI emergency. I was hired as a “temp” for the state and really wanted to be hired full time, so I was concerned about missing work for any reason.
we were all going to turn green, our teeth would fall out, we would glow in the dark, and die an early death
I don’t remember which day after the emergency was declared I did go to work, I think it was Thursday the 29th, but I was one of only 11 people that showed up for work in the entire building. I worked on the 8th floor with over 100 people in my office alone and no one was there. I don’t remember if I stayed the whole day but what I do remember is being with the group of 11 at the foot of the escalator in the basement and a custodian was “jokingly” telling the group we were all going to turn green, our teeth would fall out, we would glow in the dark, and die an early death!
I knew this man was just trying to get a reaction from some of the women and boy he sure did! One of the older women in the group started to cry and became very upset. ( I believe she was probably in her 60’s) The rest of us consoled her and told the janitor to knock it off.
It was surrealistic!
I was concerned about going to work that day, but I was very young and really wanted to keep my job.
I was hired full time eventually.
Sharon