By: Joa Crockett

1. By: Joa Crockett Chernobyl

2. Some Background Commonly called Pripyat, Chernobyl built primarily to house the workers of the nearby Chernobyl Nuclear Plant Major rail and river transport center 9th nuclear city built in the Soviet Union Destroyed the 4th Unit of the Nuclear Power Station The accident and the fire that followed released massive amounts of radioactive material into the environment Many injured and dead

3. The Disaster • 1982 there was a partial meltdown in Reactor 1 which was kept from the public until 1995 • April 26, 1986 called the worst nuclear disaster in the world • Struck Reactor 4 completely destroying it • It overheated and built up pressure to the point of explosion • At the time it was encased in lead and concrete to stop the radiation from leaking  • Encased now in even heavier materials • Helicopters begin to drop sand, boron and lead to extinguish radiation levels • Thirty-one people were killed directly because of and immediately after the accident • (all plant workers and emergency workers – firemen who put out the blaze). A total of 135 people died of acute radiation sickness with a month of the disaster

5. Evacuation • “Queues of jammed buses left the city. One after the other, like giant beetles, kilometer after kilometer. The traffic was insane. Only a Second World War survivor can imagine a similar scene.” – Resident of Pripyat • Radiation penetrated as far as Norway • Evacuation o 49,900 people • Soviet Union only admitted to the accident when the alarms were set off at a nuclear plant in Sweden about 1,100 km from Chernobyl • Major down play by Soviets

6. In a Hurry • People were told that they would only be gone for 3 days • Never returned, most of their personal belongings which remain at the site to this day.  • Police were to be at everyone's homes • Horses left on an island 6 kilometers from the plant died when there thyroid glands were destroyed • Spread to other parts of Europe as well

7. Evacuation Letter “For the attention of the residents of Pripyat! The City Council informs you that due to the accident at Chernobyl Power Station in the city of Pripyat the radioactive conditions in the vicinity are deteriorating. The Communist Party, its officials and the armed forces are taking necessary steps to combat this. Nevertheless, with the view to keep people as safe and healthy as possible, the children being top priority, we need to temporarily evacuate the citizens in the nearest towns of Kiev Oblastt. For these reasons, starting from April 27, 1986 2 p.m. each apartment block will be able to have a bus at its disposal, supervised by the police and the city officials. It is highly advisable to take your documents, some vital personal belongings and a certain amount of food, just in case, with you. The senior executives of public and industrial facilities of the city has decided on the list of employees needed to stay in Pripyat to maintain these facilities in a good working order. All the houses will be guarded by the police during the evacuation period. Tovarishchs (“Comrades”) leaving your residences temporarily please make sure you have turned the lights, electrical equipment and water off and shut the windows. Please keep calm and orderly in the process of this short-term evacuation.”

8. The Aftermath.. •  Estimates of human deaths related to accident over the years are estimated to be between 8,000 and 200,000. • Many developed thyroid cancer • Animals all over Europe were found significant to trace amounts of radiation. • Not just the horses • Four kilometers of a pine forest directly downwind from the reactor turned reddish brown and died • “Red Forest”

10. Strange Happenings • Many people experienced terrifying nightmares and strange phone calls as well as sightings • Reported an unexplained amber light hovering over the abandoned plant • Shadows, apparitions, claiming someone is watching from hospital, cold spots and the faint sound of children laughing • Large UFO was spotted over the plant while Pripyat was being evacuated and seen again over the same area a year later • Largest completely abandoned urban area  • Paranormal aspects to the area • Sightings of the “Black Bird of Chernobyl” • Resembles “Mothman” of Point Pleasant, WV 1967

11. Amusement Park • It was set to open the day after the disaster, therefore never opened. • Ferris Wheel  has become the most commonly recognized image of Pripyat. • Other strange facts include: • The post office is now littered with letters that will never be opened • Rusty trains still remain abandoned from passengers and crew

12. Want to Visit? • Tours at Chernobyl are now available • Started 2011 due to radiation levels finally being low enough • Major tourist attraction • Some even still live there, never left

15. Thank you! Any Questions?

16. Work Cited http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/fact-sheets/chernobyl-bg.html http://secretswithinthefog.wordpress.com/2012/08/16/the-abandoned-city-of-pripyatchernobyl-nuclear-plant/ http://chernobylgallery.com/chernobyl-disaster/timeline/ http://rt.com/news/155072-chernobyl-images-now-then/ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/02/chernobyl-25-years-after-_n_816902.html#s233585