NASA Prepares Facilities for Hurricane Rita

NASA facilities that could be in the path of Hurricane Rita are reassessing necessary preparations. Due to Rita’s strength, the original hurricane ride-out crew at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, Houston, has now evacuated. The 82-member crew, which included operations, maintenance, security and medical personnel, had been in place after the center officially closed yesterday afternoon. Once conditions are deemed safe, a security team will return to Johnson.

Johnson Space Center employees are being asked to check in after the storm. They are urged to call 877/470-5240 by mid-day Monday.

Two other NASA facilities, which were damaged during Hurricane Katrina, now are bracing for possible effects from Hurricane Rita. The Michoud Assembly Facility near New Orleans has closed, and a ride-out crew of about 40 is in place, with enough supplies for several days. Most of the military personnel who were staging operations out of Michoud have evacuated. Those who remain on site are preparing to leave.

NASA’s Stennis Space Center in Mississippi, where space shuttle engines are tested, is preparing for heavy rain and wind due to Hurricane Rita.

All civil servant and contractor employees at Stennis and Michoud have now been accounted for following Katrina.

NASA’s toll free phone number for Johnson Space Center employees to check in is: 877/470-5240

NASA has a public Web site to convey important information to NASA employees and contractors impacted by Rita and Katrina at: http://www.nasa.gov/eoc

NASA will provide new information and images as they become available. For updates, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/rita

or recorded updates about NASA operations and the conditions of the various facilities, call:

888/362-4323 NASA also can take email inquiries from the public about general storm-related activities. Use “Rita” in the subject line, and send to: public-inquiries@hq.nasa.gov