Well, I thought it might be worth a closer look at this just to see how outrageous a claim this really is. First, lets run a few numbers on what we know about x-ray exposure in diagnostic procedures.
Well-established dosimetry methods will show that the average chest x-ray results in a whole-body expoure of about 30 millirems, depending on filter settings and accelerating potential. Using reasonable quality factors and kerma for converting from tissue-equivalent dose to gamma exposure rate, we get something in the range of 20 to 30 milliroentgens (mR) exposure. Lets go with the higher number of 30 to be conservative.
Now, the beam is only on for a few seconds, maybe two or three, to get this dose. Again, to be safe and overestimate the rate, lets use two seconds. Combining this with the observed exposure, we get and exposure rate for diagnostic machines of about 15 mR/sec, or, converting to the more familiar hourly rate, 54 R/hr.
Now, assuming your "x-ray booth" is just a colloquial term for the conveyor x-ray unit that you see in airport security stations, we will assume, not knowing otherwise, that these machines are similar to medical units. This is reasonable; they are commercially-produced devices that use similar technology. So, you are saying that being around TMI udirng the course of an accident was like being exposed to a source producing an exposure rate in the range of 50 R/hr, and that for days at a time?
Well, if that is so, it is totally outrageous. First, if it were, at that rate, the 24 hour exposure to an individual would be about 1200-1500 rems. You said the exposure time would be one week. That would place the acute dose in the range of close to 30,000 rem. That is a 100% lethal exposure. Since the LD50/60 (look that one up) for human beings is about 450 rem, your assumption would result in everyone dying in that area within about 3 weeks, more likely within a few days. Here's a clue: NO ONE DIED. Further, verified, documented exposure rates at the plant boundary at the peak of the releases were in the millirems per hour range. And you say they were in the tens of R per hour range? Well, you're only off by several orders of magnitude, which, for a Luddite, I guess isn't too bad...
Bottom line, leave the science to scientists. Well, now that we have utterly demolished this incredible bit of sophistry, and other fables to bring up?