Aug. 20, 2008 Allard Beutel Kennedy Space Center, Fla. 321-867-2468 allard.beutel@nasa.gov RELEASE: 18-08 NASA KENNEDY SPACE CENTER REMAINS CLOSED WEDNESDAY CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - NASAâ??s Kennedy Space Center, Fla., will remain closed Wednesday because of the potential wind threat to workers from Tropical Storm Fay. Center managers decided Wednesday morning to keep Kennedy closed another day to general personnel through at least workersâ?? second shift, which ends late Wednesday night. Managers will reevaluate the situation at 11 a.m. EDT and update employees by noon through the centerâ??s hurricane phone lines and the agencyâ??s emergency operations Web site. So far, there are no reports of any injuries or damage associated with Fay at the center. Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex also remains closed Wednesday. The storm is forecast to pass over Kennedy around mid-day and move off shore by the afternoon. The top sustained wind recorded at Kennedy overnight was about 66 mph with peak gusts about 77 mph. The center is forecast to experience tropical force wind through the afternoon. About 200 emergency personnel, known as a â??ride-out crewâ??, are staying on site through out the storm. They will begin making initial damage assessments two hours after the sustained wind drops below 58 mph and if there is daylight. The ride-out team hopes that will be today, but it depends on Fayâ??s movement. Kennedy workers should check with the centerâ??s hurricane information phone line for the latest status: 321-861-7900 or 1-866-572-4877. Center storm updates also will be available online at the agencyâ??s emergency operation center Web site at: http://www.nasa.gov/eoc Reporters also can hear the latest status by using Kennedyâ??s media update phone line at 321-867-2525. For information about Kennedy Space Center, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/kennedy -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
