<b>09.02.05</b> Bruce Buckingham/Jessica Rye Kennedy Space Center, Fla. (Phone: 321/867-2468) RELEASE: 86-05 KENNEDY SPACE CENTER JOINS KATRINA RECOVERY EFFORTS Nearly 20 people are being sent from NASA's Kennedy Space Center for Stennis Space Center, Miss., and the Michoud Assembly Facility, near New Orleans with much needed emergency equipment, food, and medical supplies to assist with the recovery efforts associated with Hurricane Katrina. Early this morning, KSC sent a helicopter with medical supplies and an Emergency Medical Technician to Stennis. Since Michoud can only be accessed by air, the helicopter will remain at Stennis to help with transportation of people and cargo to and from Michoud. This afternoon, a NASA plane will carry medical supplies, food and chain saws, as well as a physician and two high voltage technicians to ensure Michoud can safely receive power when the main electricity grid comes online. Early next week, a 14-person security team will leave for Michoud to relieve the security professionals at that location.. This weekend, KSC will send a truck with 1,000 gallons of diesel fuel and three large generators: a 1 mega watt generator, and a 125 and 225 kilowatt generator. All KSC support and relief efforts are being coordinated through the NASA Emergency Operations Center in Washington, D.C. NASA has also established a program to coordinate volunteer housing for the NASA community (civil servants and contractors) from Michoud and Stennis, and KSC is participating in those activities. NASA has opened a dedicated toll-free number to take information and provide assistance to individuals seeking information about family members that may be sheltering at the Stennis Space Center, Miss., or the Michoud Assembly Facility, near New Orleans.. The toll free number is: 866/779-7462. NASA is also taking email inquiries about personnel sheltering at Stennis and Michoud. Use "Assistance â?? Katrina" in the subject line, and send email inquiries to: <center>public-inquiries@hq.nasa.gov.</center> NASA also has a direct telephone number (256/544-4700) for family members seeking information about people sheltering at Stennis and Michoud. Support personnel at that number will also assist people trying to locate employees who work at either facility. . NASA has a toll-free number (888/362-4323) for recorded updates about general conditions at Stennis and Michoud. For updates about relief operations on the Web, visit: <center> http://www.nasa.gov/hurricane For information about NASA and agency programs on the Web, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/home -end- To subscribe to the list, send a message to: ksc-subscribe@newsletters.nasa.gov To remove your address from the list, send a message to: ksc-unsubscribe@newsletters.nasa.gov
