6 on a scale of 7

Posted on March 15, 2011 by Art Stone

There is an international scale to measure the seriousness of a nuclear accident.  The scale goes from 1 to 7.   Three Mile Island was a 5, Chernobyl was a 7.

The U.S. Military has stated that the Fukushima accident is now at level 6.

About Art Stone

I'm the guy who used to run StreamingRadioGuide.com (and FindAnISP.com).
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3 Responses to 6 on a scale of 7

  1. prboylan says:
    March 15, 2011 at 2:17 pm

    The U.S. Military is right, Fukushima is somewhere between TMI and Chernobyl. But I’m not sure I agree with the scale. if TMI rates a 5, Chernobyl should be a 10.

  2. ICCDude says:
    March 15, 2011 at 6:36 pm

    I was in Harrisburg when TMI happened, and it coincided with the release of the movie The China Syndrome. It was also the first nuclear accident, so there was nothing to compare it to, and they only theorized that the hydrogen would be reabsorbed back into the water.
    TMI should be a 1 or 2 since there was only a gas release and no meltdown. I also think that Chernobyl should be a 10.
    And I think the Fukushima accident is now at level 7 of 10. I think it can be a 10 by tomorrow morning. And in our new nuclear gauge we may have to expand it to encompass the possible horrific results of multiple reactors melting down in close proximity.
    Are we witnessing the end of nuclear power?

  3. Art Stone says:
    March 16, 2011 at 5:15 am

    The rating has now be upgraded to 6+

    They were trying this morning to use CH47 helicopters to dump water on the reactors from above like they do on forest fires, but quickly called if off due to unacceptable radiation levels in the air above the plant.

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