From: yee@trident.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee)
Subject: KSC joins in relief effort for Hurricane Andrew victims [Release 117-92/KSC] (Forwarded)
Apparently-To: sci-space-news@ames.arc.nasa.gov
Followup-To: sci.space
Organization: NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
Date: Fri, 28 Aug 1992 20:28:09 GMT

          Bruce Buckingham
          407/867-2468                                      Aug. 28, 1992

          KSC RELEASE NO. 117 - 92


          KSC JOINS IN RELIEF EFFORT FOR HURRICANE ANDREW VICTIMS


               A convoy of 12 trucks and cars packed with durable goods
          left Kennedy Space Center this morning en route to South Florida
          to assist residents hit hardest by Hurricane Andrew.

               Hurricane Andrew swept through areas south of Miami earlier
          this week with relentless devastation, leaving more than 250,000
          people homeless.

               Because of the great outcry for assistance, NASA and its KSC
          contractors began mobilizing to do whatever possible to assist
          those left hungry, hurting and homeless.

               Three 5,000-gallon water tankers led the convoy on the five-
          hour drive followed by two 40-foot tractor trailers loaded with
          an assortment of relief items for the people of South Florida.
          Included on the trucks are: meal packets, sleeping cots,
          blankets, mattreses, tents, tables, shelves, chairs, generators,
          plywood, rope, wire fencing, tool boxes, a three-ton hoist and a
          variety of clothes and shoes.

               "It's all excess material over and above what we are
          required to keep here at the center for our own hurricane plan,"
          said NASA's Mike Stevens of the Fire and Rescue Office.

               The convoy will establish the initial drop center for future
          relief efforts.

               Cal Staubus, NASA's Fire and Rescue Office chief, said, "at
          this time we are piggybacking our operation with that of the
          Titusville Chapter of the Salvation Army. They already have a
          network established to dispatch the supplies."

               The group, made up of about 16 NASA and contractor
          employees, will dispatch the wares from a designated staging area
          to locations the Salvation Army says is in most need. Everything
          will be given away.

               Staubus said two of the water tankers have already been
          allocated to area hospitals.

               "The tanker drivers accept the possibility that their stay
          may be longer than expected," Staubus said. "They may be asked to
          continue to refill them for quite a while. We're not sure when
          the tankers themselves will be returned."

               Forklift operator, Ralph Brown, EG&G, said he was given an
          armful of toys from friends when they learned he was driving one
          of the convoy trucks. "It's a chance to help somebody," he said.
          "I even went down to Winn Dixie last night myself and bought a
          bunch of baby food so I could hand it out. It feels good to be
          able to help."

               Scores of other KSC employees also assisted in the effort to
          ready the water tankers and trucks. Included are those who loaded
          the supplies on the trucks and those who tested the water in the
          tankers to ensure its purity.

               Already, KSC has been organizing drop points at all major
          KSC facilities for the collection of additional supplies to be
          taken to Hurricane Andrew victims.

               "We will help as long as the need is present," Staubus said.
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