In this small town, the hospital is just a few blocks away. Neelam hurries on and looks for her mother and nurse Bridgette. She finds that the nurse and doctors are with her mother so she waits outside the hospital room; the local TV news is on and the station is reporting that a temporary evacuation of the plant has been ordered and is being carried out as a precaution.
Still, the alarm and the evacuation are not extended to the town or the general public. It’s still unclear what has happened at the plant. The local TV news is reporting that workers, and possibly residents, of the surrounding areas, have been exposed to very low levels of radiation - 0.2 to 6.9 microsieverts per hour. “What does that mean?” Neelam wonders. The local station isn’t reporting any more than that. The anchor says that these radiation levels present a very low risk, but hints that it could affect long-term fertility for women as well as the local environment.
Her mother’s nurse, Bridgette, finally walks out with the doctors and sees Neelam alone.
VIDEO: Video/SEC_17 - Waiting Room background. Neelam with Nurse - Bridgette: Are you the daughter? Neelam, right? It’s good you were able to make it, hun. I know it means so much to your mother. She’s about to go in. How are you holding up? Neelam: It’s been a long day but I’m so happy I made it here! There were a few times when I thought I was going to have to turn back… Any idea what’s going on? (She gestures to the monitor.) Bridgette: This stuff is nerve wracking, sweetie! We’re getting hourly updates both from the Governor and the US Department of Energy. As of now, they’re telling us there is no threat. Just a power surge that created a release of smoke from a coal plant. That’s still the official report, but all this fear mongering is quite upsetting. (Looks at the TV monitor) I wish someone would do some real reporting for a change! END OF VIDEO
CONTINUE: Section 17