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Oct. 9, 1966
October 9, 1966

Detroit remains calm despite radiation concerns

An eerie calm has fallen over the city of Detroit. For the past two days, southwesterly winds have carried radioactive particles from the Fermi plant towards Detroit. With rain in the forecast, there is increased risk of contamination. Officials have urged the residents of Detroit not to panic, but to evacuate the city in an orderly fashion [1].

Thousands of people in the Detroit area have shown up at hospitals claiming to have radiation poisoning. Doctors, however, say that most of the symptoms reported by patients aren’t consistent with radiation poisoning, and claim that the symptoms are the result of a form of mass hysteria known as radiophobia [2]. They say that Detroiters have not received a large enough dose of radiation to cause radiation poisoning, which typically only occurs when someone is exposed to high doses of radiation, or lower doses for long periods of time.

Nevertheless, officials are trying their best to inform the public of the danger posed by radiation, without unduly alarming them. Mayor Cavanaugh, attempting to allay residents’ fears, issued the following statement:

State and local officials have declared a state of emergency for the city of Detroit. Evacuation is not mandatory, but is recommended. While officials have determined the threat to public health to be minimal, all residents are urged to take precautions. Those who wish to leave the city are advised to leave in a peaceful and civil manner. Police are assisting all of those who wish to leave. Those who wish to remain in the city are advised to stay in their homes until further notice; children and pregnant women are at particular risk.

There is no need to panic. This voluntary evacuation is a precautionary measure. When the threat to public health is deemed to be over, authorities will announce an “all clear” message on radio, television, and in newspapers.

Despite the fears of some, most residents are not concerned about the radiation, which is invisible to all of the senses [3]. Detroiters are carrying on with their usual Sunday business, like going to church, visiting family, or playing pinochle. Most see no reason to leave, like one homeowner we interviewed on Detroit’s west side. “Leave? What’s the big deal? I thought there was going to be some big explosion or something. I don’t care what the government tells me,” he said, puffing on a cigarette.

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[1] This is a daunting task. As stated by Fuller, WALD, p. 6, “For the Michigan State Police, who bore the responsibility for the whole state, the task of evacuating Detroit would be flatly impossible because the auto city had put all its faith in public transport.”

[2] Already well known in 1966: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiophobia

[3] As much as some might think such an event might cause mass panic, keep in mind that there was no internet in 1966 and many people didn’t even have TVs. Radiation is invisible, odorless, and tasteless and because of this I think many people won’t take the threat seriously. People in the 1960s understood the dangers of nuclear weapons full well, but meltdowns won’t have the same psychological effect.
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