I was a 6th grade student at Susquehanna Twp. Middle School. The accident did not seem to be a big deal initially. I remember the national news treating it more significantly than the local news initially.
By Friday AM it had become a major issue. Starting mid-morning I recall kids being called out of class and leaving school with their parents. That Friday was a beautiful day with unseasonably warm temps.
The accident did not seem to be a big deal initially
My parents decided to evacuate me (my brother and sister were away at college). We dropped our dog at a kennel and drove west. We spent the night in an Altoona motel.
Richard
On Saturday my parents dropped me off at the home of my best friend whose family had relocated to Latrobe the previous summer. My parents then returned to Harrisburg to prepare in case they needed to evacuate for an extended period or forever–as was the thinking at that point.
I attended 6th grade with my best friend for one week at Derry Area Schools. During the week the crisis subsided. My parents retrieved me the following Saturday and we returned to Harrisburg.
For me, the legacy of the accident is that it helped strengthen my friendship with my best friend at a time when the friendship could have ended due to distance. I am grateful to say we remain best friends today.
Richard