Steam blows from the plant's cooling towers during the first 24 hours of the accident. (Corbis Photo)

Crisis at Three Mile Island

The articles here were produced by a Washington Post writing and editing team composed of Laurence Stern, Daniel J. Balz, Milton R. Benjamin, Paul Brinkley-Rogers, Warren Brown, Victor Cohn, Hugh Craig, Jane Freundel, Joel R. Garreau, Peter A. Masley, Robin Mezsoly, Peter Milius, Thomas O'Toole, Bill Peterson, Walter Pincus, Wendy C. Ross, Martin Schram, Ward Sinclair, J.P. Smith, T.R. Reid, Bill Richards and Edward Walsh. Washington Post poll by Barry Sussman. The original special report was designed by Robin Jareaux; layout by Susan Clipper. Production work by Bill Hensel. Some typographical errors in the original report were corrected for the online edition.

The Washington Post published the following special report in the immediate aftermath of the March 1979 nuclear accident at Three Mile Island. Subsequent investigations and studies answered some of the questions raised in these articles. Other questions remain unanswered 20 years later.

Chapter 1:	A Pump Failure and Claxon Alert
Chapter 2:	How the Crisis Was Managed
Chapter 3:	A Swift Rethinking of the 'Unthinkable'
Chapter 4:	A Tough Fight to Confine the Damage
Glossary
Chapter 5:	A Disturbing Signal of Vented Radiation
Chapter 6:	Danger of Day Three - Nuclear Shower if the Core Melts
A Phenomenon Called Radiation
Chapter 7:	A Watchful Eye on the Black Ink
Chapter 8:	An Open conflict Over Authority
Chapter 9:	The Media Corps' All Out Invasion
Chapter 10:	A Presidential Tour to Calm Fears
Chapter 11:	Weighing Options on the Gas Bubble
Chapter 12:	Swiftly Gearing Up for Evaculation
Chapter 13:	Hoping the Bubble Will Slip Away
Chapter 14:	Inhabitants Wonder What to Believe
Appendix I:	April 1979 Poll - Despite Fears, D.C. Area Residents Resigned to A-Power
Appendix II:	Transcripts from NRC Meetings - "Too Little Information Too Late
Appendix III:	The Newest Human Guinea Pigs