NASA Hurricane Ivan Preparation Update 12 Sep 2004

NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (KSC) will reopen Monday Sept. 13 to all 14,000 employees. KSC has been closed for normal business since Sept. 2 because of Hurricane Frances.

About 1,500 damage assessment and support personnel spent the past week working to get KSC operational. Workers are continuing to prepare the center for its reopening and for the possibility of Hurricane Ivan this week.

NASA officials are closely monitoring Ivan’s track, as it approaches the United States through the Caribbean Sea. The latest computer models have the powerful storm moving farther away from KSC’s location on Florida’s east central coast. KSC is expected to feel some limited effects of Ivan Tuesday night or Wednesday morning.

When the center reopens Monday, about 650 employees will have to report to alternative worksites, because their buildings were damaged by Hurricane Frances and require extensive repairs. Most KSC employees will have operational facilities that have power, air conditioning, voice and data communications when they return to work.

NASA will provide updates related to agency operations, the Kennedy Space Center and Hurricane Ivan as new information becomes available.