In 1979, I was the sales manager for radio station WCMB, an AM station licensed to Harrisburg. We had one full-time newsperson.
On the morning the story broke on another local radio station, the WCMB newsperson, fearing the worst, skipped town. With no one to update our listeners about what was happening, the General Manager, Harvey Tate, asked others to take over those duties. I was sent to the Harrisburg bus and train station and to the PA Turnpike entrance to report on the situation. As I recall, there was no mass exodus from the area that I could report. In fact, there were no lines at any ticket window or at the Turnpike entrance. It was eerie to see the towers of TMI from that entrance.
I felt helpless and exposed.
Back at the station, we awaited news from the American Red Cross about any kind of evacuation. That call never came in.
I also remember feeling strange as I drove to the transit stations because other news organizations were telling people to stay inside and close their windows! I hoped that I wasn’t being exposed to radiation that would kill me or harm my health. I felt helpless and exposed.
I left WCMB in early 1980 for another job in New Jersey, and have since retired, returning to Camp Hill.
Donna