Vanderbilt Television News Archive

(Studio: Brian Williams) The latest developments in the disaster in Japan updated; scenes shown of the damaged reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant; figures on the dead, missing and without power cited.

(Tokyo: Robert Bazell) The frightening situation at the nuclear plant featured; details given about the restoration of power to the reactors, the condition of each one and concern about plutonium; scenes shown of helicopters dumping water, fire trucks; map of the evacuation region shown. [Nuclear safety analyst Ken BERGERON†- comments on the danger from the spent fuel rods.] [Nuclear Regulatory Commission chairman Gregory JACZKO†- comments on evacuation recommendations for Americans.]

(Studio: Brian Williams) Report introduced.

(Akita, Japan: Ann Curry) The psychological impact of the disaster featured; details given of distrust with the government and shortages of food, water and gas; scenes shown of evacuees in a shelter, an anti-nuclear protest in Tokyo, crowded passport centers and train stations, search and rescue teams, a body, a man crying over a destroyed neighborhood. [American Jason RAY‡- comments on leaving the country.] [British rescuer Russell GAUDEN†- says there’s always a small percent of hope.] The deployment of buses to pick up Americans above Sendai noted.

(Studio: Brian Williams) President Obama shown signing a condolence book at the Japanese embassy. [OBAMA – says we do not expect harmful levels of radiation to reach the US.]

(The Weather Channel: Bryan Norcross) The movement of the radiation plume featured; diagrams shown.

(Studio: Brian Williams, Nancy Snyderman) Anxiety over the radiation levels in the US and the screening of passengers arriving from Japan discussed; audio from KNX 1070 Newsradio played.

(Washington: Tom Costello) Concern about aging nuclear plants in the US featured; map shown; details given about the earthquake risk at the Indian Point plant in New York and the assessment from the Union of Concerned Scientists. [New York Governor Andrew CUOMO†- says this plant in this proximity to New York City was never a good risk.] [JACZKO – says if we need to make modifications to our facilities we will.] [Union of Concerned Scientists David LOCHBAUM†- says if something were to happen then shame on us.] [Shaw Power Group Jeffrey MERRIFIELD†- says simply looking at the age isn’t a good indicator.]