CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA’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 workers’ second shift, which ends late Wednesday night.
Managers will reevaluate the situation at 11 a.m. EDT and update employees by noon through the center’s hurricane phone lines and the agency’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 “ride-out crew”, 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 Fay’s movement.
Kennedy workers should check with the center’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 agency’s emergency operation center Web site at: http://www.nasa.gov/eoc
Reporters also can hear the latest status by using Kennedy’s media update phone line at 321-867-2525.
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