NASA Procedures and Guidelines
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NPR 8715.2 Eff. Date: December 22, 1999 Cancellation Date: January 09, 2009	NASA Emergency Preparedness Plan Procedural Requirements - Revalidated
| TOC | Change History | Preface | Chapter1 | Chapter2 | Chapter3 | Chapter4 | Chapter5 | Chapter6 | Chapter7 | AppendixA | AppendixB | AppendixC | AppendixD | AppendixE | AppendixF | AppendixG | | ALL |

APPENDIX C. Plan for Notification and Alert of NASA Officials During Other Than Normal Work Hours

1. PURPOSE

This plan prescribes the notification and alert system for other than normal work hours operations, including weekends and holidays. The provisions of this plan ensure the availability of NASA Officials for the operation of NASA activities during other than normal work hours and around-the-clock notification of emergencies, including but not limited to emergency communications with the White House.

2. APPLICABILITY

This plan is applicable to NASA Headquarters and NASA Centers with the exception of the Office of the Inspector General.

3. CONCEPT OF OPERATION

3.1 In case of an emergency, unless otherwise notified by the Deputy Administrator, the NASA Headquarters Main Security Console will be the central point of contact for other than normal work hours notification of Headquarters Officials. It will also be the first point of contact for other than normal work hours communications from the White House. When contacted, the Console Security Officers shall alert the NASA Duty Officer (NDO).

3.2 The NASA Emergency Preparedness Coordinator is designated as the White House point of contact for all NASA emergencies in support of the National Response Plan. The Office of Security and Program Protection will provide guidance for inclusion in the NDO operation checklist/manual.

3.3 Each Center Director will provide the capability to report necessary information to NASA Headquarters in support of this plan. (Examples of topics suggested to report are shown as Attachment A.)

4. DEFINITIONS

The notification and alert system is designed to enable key NASA Headquarters Officials to respond to situations requiring action, and to allow for contacting key Headquarters Officials and needed functional managers in the event of an emergency.

4.1 "Special Alerts" are situations for critical periods, such as major missions, budget developments, major incidents, or any other special occasions, including but not limited to emergency communications with the White House.

4.2 "Normal Operations" covers all periods other than those mentioned in paragraph 4.1 above.

5. RESPONSIBILITIES

5.1 Special Alerts.

5.1.1 The Deputy Administrator is responsible for the following:

a. Initiating and terminating Special Alert periods.

b. Notifying key Headquarters Officials designated for Special Alert status.

c. Designating a Situation Room as the central meeting area for monitoring and reporting purposes.

d. Providing the Chief, Headquarters Facilities Management and Security Branch, on a weekly basis, with the telephone numbers of designated key Headquarters Officials and where they may be reached during other than normal work hours and on weekends.

5.1.2 During Special Alerts, those key Headquarters officials designated for Special Alert will accomplish the following:

a. Provide the Deputy Administrator with telephone numbers where they may be reached during other than normal work hours and on weekends.

b. Keep the designated Situation Room advised of their locations and telephone numbers during Special Alert periods.

c. Advise the Deputy Administrator of upcoming events or circumstances that may warrant designation of a Special Alert.

5.1.3 NASA Center Directors will provide a corollary reporting system at their facilities.

5.2 Normal Operations.

5.2.1 The Deputy Administrator is responsible for appointing an NDO through the use of a published duty schedule of designated NASA employees who will serve as the NDO on a rotating basis.

5.2.2 Officials-in-Charge of Headquarters Offices and other designated essential officials will inform the Deputy Administrator of the following:

a. Their planned other than normal work locations (if other than their homes) including evenings, weekends, and holidays; and

b. How and at what times they may be reached by telephone.

5.2.3 Officials-in-Charge of Headquarters Offices will designate and furnish to the Chief, Headquarters Security Office, a roster of individuals in their respective offices who may be contacted, as necessary, during other than normal work hours on matters related to their program and functional areas of responsibility.

5.2.4 When events (other than a Special Alert) are scheduled for which an Official-in-Charge of a Headquarters Office desires to designate a particular individual to be contacted during other than normal work hours, such information will be furnished to the Chief, Headquarters Security Office, as far in advance as possible. The person designated will be responsible for apprising the Chief, Headquarters Security Office, of the telephone number(s) where he/she may be reached during the entire period designated.

5.2.5 The Chief, Headquarters Security Office, is responsible for the following:

a. Providing the NDO with appropriate communication equipment (i.e., pagers) and an operation checklist/manual containing instructions and current emergency contacts.

b. Establishing the Emergency Contact List at the NASA Headquarters Main Security Console as an adjunct to the NDO to ensure contact of responsible officials in the event of an emergency.

c. Maintaining current records of key Headquarters Officials to contact in emergency situations.

d. Functioning as the default point of contact when uncertainty arises as to the appropriate official to contact.

e. Ensuring that other than normal work hours contacts with the correct key officials are made.

f. Ensuring that the Main Security Console telephone numbers are distributed throughout the Agency.

g. Providing the White House Situation Room with the Headquarters Main Security Console telephone number and the NDO's pager number.

5.2.6 The NASA Headquarters Main Security Console operators will accomplish the following:

a. Serve as the White House point of contact when the White House attempts to contact the NASA Administrator during other than normal work hours.

b. Take the name and telephone number of the caller, the location and nature of the emergency, and the date and time of the report.

c. Notify the NDO of the emergency and communicate all of the information reported by the caller.

d. When uncertain as to the appropriate point of contact, notify the Chief, Headquarters Security Office, who will provide the necessary guidance.

e. Contact the NDO whenever the White House calls or whenever assistance is needed.

5.2.7 The NDO will accomplish the following:

a. Verify his/her home number upon receipt of the published duty schedule and notify the Chief, Headquarters Security Office, of any discrepancy.

b. Remain on call by telephone or pager. If pager is not working and the NDO must leave his/her residence, a destination telephone number must be furnished to the NASA Headquarters Main Security Console.

ATTACHMENT A to APPENDIX C. Criteria for Emergency Notification

The following is a list of examples of emergencies that would require immediate notification. It is not intended to be all-inclusive.

1. Any situation that has a major adverse affect on the general public's health and safety emanating from a NASA facility or resource.

2. Exercise of the Space Shuttle Contingency Plan for emergency actions such as return to launch site, on-orbit emergency, on-pad fire or explosion, etc.

3. Expendable launch vehicle or payload mishaps impacting an off-range area.

4. Major damage to national resources such as wind tunnels, aircraft hangars, space flight production capabilities, unique flight hardware, and aircraft.

5. Actual espionage or sabotage to NASA resources (equipment, facilities, hardware, or personnel). This includes terrorist activity, bombing, and hostage scenarios.

6. Major interruptions of NASA missions and danger to the safety and health of personnel due to natural disasters affecting NASA resources, e.g., hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, range fires, tornadoes, etc.

7. Any mishap resulting in death or permanent disability to one or more persons, the hospitalization of three or more persons within 30-days, or any other condition deemed immediately reportable under NPR 8621.1, "NASA Procedural Requirements for Mishap Reporting, Investigating, and Record keeping."

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