Agenda• Facility Status – Operations & Management• Importance of Emergency Readiness• AO guidelines for Severe Weather Events• Impact of Hurricane Maria• Lessons Learned• Next Steps

The Arecibo Observatory• Built in 1963, AO is the largest fully

operational single dish radio telescope in the World

– Owned by the NSF– Site expands over 118 acres and has more

than 40 buildings

• Located in Arecibo, Puerto Rico– Primary Research facilities– Remote Observing facilities– Accommodations for Visiting Scientists– Science and Visitor’s Center (90K visitors)

• AO was one the first facilities identified for divestment from NSF funding

• Environmental Impact Statement - July 2017

• Record of Decision – November 2017• New Award to for Operations as

of April 1st

• 5 Year Award• Stepped financial profile (7M-2M)

O&M Status

University of Central Florida• The University of Central Florida is a thriving preeminent

research university located in metropolitan Orlando– UCF is one of the largest universities in the U.S. with 66,000

students– $1.5 Billion budget / $150M in externally funded research– Administrator of the NASA Florida Space Grant Consortium

• Florida Space Institute (FSI)– Established in 1996 by the State of Florida.

• Developing Space and Space relate research in the State of Florida.

– Provides education activities within UCF and other member institutions of the State University System of Florida.

The Management Team

• Overall management of AO• Includes contractual

administration, compliance and legal engagements

• Science lead across all three scientific areas: Radio astronomy, SAS, and Planetary Science.

• Overall maintenance and engineering operations at AO

• Telescope Maintenance & Operations

• Site Maintenance• Engineering• IT• Procurement

• Overall education and public outreach lead

• Science and Visitor’s Center

• Cafeteria Operations• Visiting Scientists

Quarters• Engagement with the

government of P.R.

Severe Weather Events and Large Facilities• Emergency Response Plans for severe weather is a critical part of

large facilities operations.• Overly complex (and costly) due to the uncertainties of the events.

– Needs to include unexpected events such as hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis (etc).

• Includes safeguarding of:– Facility infrastructure– Scientific Equipment– Guidance to personnel

“Facilities might spend years preparing for an event they might never experience. But if they ever do, it be the difference between its endurance or destruction”

Severe Weather Readiness at AO• AO has a standard severe weather procedure

that prepares the site for severe weather events.

– The intent is to safe keep the telescope, research equipment, facilities and observatory assets; all while ensuring our staff has enough time to secure their homes and families.

– The preparations are quite extensive but can be completed in less than 24 hours, thanks to the expertise of our incredible staff.

– Updated Yearly

Process Steps

Pre -Season Preparation

• Emergency Management team members

• Maintenance to critical equipment

• Updates to procedure

Storm Tracking

• Tracking begins as soon as system is formed (EHS)

• EMT meeting daily to discuss hurricane path and procedures

Preparations for shutdown

• 48 hours prior to potential landfall preparations begin.

• Operations cease/telescope secured

• Communications to staff

During the Storm

• Ride out crew -shelter In place

• No operations• Maintain

communication as long as possible

After the Storm

• Re-establish communication

• Site Assessment• OK to access site• Cleanup and

repairs• Operations

• Disassembly of the tip of 430MHz antenna line feed.

• Disconnecting of the 430 Mhzwaveguide flexible joints along the Catwalk.

• Installation of steel safety pins to lock the Gregorian dome in storage mode.

• Anchoring of the 12m reference antenna.

Major Equipment

• Installation of storm shutters• Preventive maintenance of on-

site backup generators• Refueling (tanks and vehicles)• Safekeeping of all electronic

equipment and loose tools in laboratories and office areas.

• Secure Remote Sites

Physical Infrastructure

• Comprehensive communications strategy• Staff, users and the neighboring

community.• After the storm, a small group of

facilities personnel and management accesses the facility to inspect for damages and assess the safety of the site.

• A timeline to resume operations is developed and communicated to users and staff.

Communications

Critical Preparations

2017 Severe Weather Events - AO Experience• Record Rainfall in 1Q-2Q 2017 (before Maria)• Hurricane Irma – Sept 6

– Category 5 Hurricane

• Hurricane Maria – Sept 20– Category 4 Hurricane

First hurricanes to directly impact the Island

since Georges in 1998

Hurricane Maria• September 20, 2017• Cat 4 Hurricane – Max

Winds 155mph– Max Winds at AO 108mph– Over 35” of rain in 24 hours

• Took over 12 hours to cross over Puerto Rico

Impact to Puerto Rico• Loss of power 100% of the Island• Loss of potable water service to 90% of the Island• No communications (Cell, land lines, internet or other)• Shortages of fuel, cash (no ATM), food, supplies.

Hurricane Maria

Damages - Summary• 430 Line feed destroyed• 80 primary reflector panels• Multiple roof leaks• 430 transmitter oil (wet)• HF Coax lines broken• Laser rangers destroyed• Severe flooding under primary reflector

Operational Challenges after Maria• Focus on accounting for all staff

– 80% in 3 days– 100% in 8 days

• Debris– Trees, rocks, mud, water, scrap– Damage Assessment

• Power– No commercial power, but backup generators

ensured continuity of critical site infrastructure

– Ultra - Low Power mode for fuel savings. All non essential systems Off.

• Diesel and Fuel– Coordination with DoD and FEMA for diesel

delivery (Military escort mandatory)– Personnel located at diesel distribution– Clearing of roads to ensure truck access

• Communications & Schedule– Transportation to site

• Developed ride share with site vehicles

– SAT Phone as the only method of communication

– Mandatory curfew changed daily –affecting operation hours

– Gvmt Information flowed down to staff

Recovery Milestones• Communication established initially via HAM radio (2 days after

impact), and then satellite phones• 55% of staff arrived on site to help less than 48 hours after hurricane• Primary roads leading to AO cleared in 3 days• Partial operations restarted 7 days after the hurricane

– Successful testing of all major scientific equipment completed in January 2018

• Commercial power restored December 2017• 100% of staff accounted for in 8 days

Lessons Learned• Communication is Key

– Establishing a robust plan with multiple communication strategies is important.– Personnel information (Address, phone numbers, emergency contacts, personal emails)

• Clear Documented Policies• Informational Sessions

– Facility & Staff

• Quick Response Team is critical– On site– With Critical Suppliers (diesel, power authority, etc).

• Relationships with local authorities – Played a big role in our successful recovery. Individual contacts at PREPA, TOTAL, FEMA, Local

Government.

Operations & Management

Financial Strategy

Standard Operational

Cadence

SCIENCE, SCIENCE, SCIENCE

Staffing

Repair & ReadinessNext Steps

• Funding assigned to AO for repairs (14M)• Focus on readiness efforts for next hurricane season

• Starting in 5 weeks!• Perform critical repairs

• Generators• 430 Line Feed• Primary reflector panels and calibration• Physical Infrastructure

Thank You!