@Derpsternum
Here is the snippet of a newscast I came up with for Wednesday March 23rd, two days after the attack. Hope everyone likes it!
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March 23rd, 1983
[A special edition of ABC News – Ted Koppel reporting]
Good evening. It has now been two days since the detonation of a nuclear weapon in Charleston Harbor. For a report on the situation there we go to Peter Jennings reporting from Columbia, South Carolina.
Peter Jennings: Ted, The U.S. Air Force just an hour ago released the following films taken by reconnaissance planes over the Charleston area. [scene shifts to show overhead view of devastation] As you can see here there are clearly signs the firestorms ignited by the nuclear blast are not yet out. Surviving firefighters in Charleston have reluctantly decided to let the firestorms burn themselves out. This decision was made after several firefighters in the danger area started showing early symptoms of radiation sickness. The Commissioner of the Charleston Fire Department said this in the briefing held earlier today.
[Switch to a briefing room] “Many of our firefighters have been fighting the blazes ignited by the explosion for the last 72 hours without rest and in areas that are highly radioactive. As of now at least 20 of them are showing early signs of radiation sickness. We simply cannot ask them to continue at their present pace. And given the high radioactivity in many of these areas we do not want to further risk the health of these fire crews. We are going to be making use of the help in the form of other fire crew who have poured into Charleston from all over the United States. But we will be doing our best to ensure that each of these crews is on the line for a limited period to ensure they will not receive high doses of radiation.
Reporter: When do you foresee the fires finally being extinguished?
Commissioner: Right now, our best estimate is that it could be another 3 or 4 days before the fires are completely contained and another week before they are fully extinguished. If the weather cooperate we might be able to see things totally contained by the end of the week.
[cutback to Peter Jennings.]
Meantime here in Columbia, South Carolina thousands of refugees from Charleston and its outlying areas are arriving. Local shelters are already strained to overflowing with refugees from that devastated city still arriving by the hundreds by the hour.
We spoke with some of these people earlier and the prominent feeling is one of shock and the one question on everyone’s minds is when they will be allowed to go home.
Married couple with baby: We had to leave so quickly we barely had time to get enough formula for the baby. We’re almost out. We’re really hoping that we’ll be able to go back to our home soon.
Senior couple: Well first we’d like our son and daughter-in-law to know we’re fine. But second, we’re hoping that we’ll be able to go back home real soon. The house we live in belonged to my husband’s parents and their grandparents…
Married Couple: I’m hoping we can go back real soon. Our house is on the western edge of the city so we’re both hoping and praying they’ll let us go home soon.
Peter Jennings: Ted as you and our viewers heard the primary concern is – when will we be able to go back home? Unfortunately, according to the newly created state emergency task force created by the governor to deal with this disaster as well as a representative we talked with from the Atomic Energy Commission the answer may will be…never for some.
[cut to official from the Atomic Energy Commission]
Peter, unfortunately the weather conditions couldn’t have been worse for this disaster. Winds blowing in from the ocean have helped spread fallout inland for a radius of about 25 miles from the initial blast site. Further unlike Hiroshima and Nagasaki this was a ground burst not an air burst. That means more fallout and more radiation spread. It’s extremely possible many of the homes upwind of the blast will have to be demolished at this point. Likely we are looking at a cleanup of years. Most likely it could be as much as 2 to 3 years before some people and I emphasize some people, will be able to return. Most will simply have to be relocated elsewhere.