Narrative:

The east area was notified the ZZZ tower may be ATC zero. We had a flm from another area in charge and were unfamiliar with ATC zero procedures. Even though we have been briefed on ATC zero; no one in the area felt they had sufficient knowledge of how to proceed. Within minutes of being notified; we were told ZZZ ATCT was ATC zero and we had their airspace. This was confusing because why would the center take the tower's airspace and not the TRACON? We were then told [the TRACON] and ZZZ ATCT were both ATC zero and we had the airspace. We were asking how to both go ATC zero at the same time and where is the relief briefing or call from [the TRACON] to apprise of the traffic. No one in charge knew. We were then told ZZZ ATCT was open but the TRACON was ATC zero and we had their airspace. We told the flm we needed the proper sector opened to take over [the TRACON] airspace; he told us to open it but no one knew how. We paged back a controller that had run some ATC zero practice problems to open the sector. He was back with in minutes and before he could get the sector open; [the TRACON] took the airspace back. The total elapsed time of ATC zero was 3 minutes. This was a chaotic and confusing situation. It felt as if no one in charge; or that the flm or omic had a clue what was going on or how to proceed. This was also the 3rd time within a month that the TRACON has declared ATC zero. The procedures need to be simplified so they are understandable. Adjacent area flms need to be trained on ATC zero if they are going to be in charge of our area. [The center] needs to understand what happens with ATC zero and what the proper steps are. Even though there is an ATC zero document; no one in charge that day even looked at it. I am not sure they know where it is. Controllers need more training on procedures. Quick briefings from those with limited knowledge are of no use. No one remembers a 5 minute confusing briefing. We need disym time for this. Management needs more training.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Enroute Controller described the Supervisor/Controller unfamiliarity concerning a recent ATC Zero event; noting that more training needs to be accomplished concerning contingency plans.

Narrative: The East area was notified the ZZZ Tower may be ATC Zero. We had a FLM from another area in charge and were unfamiliar with ATC Zero procedures. Even though we have been briefed on ATC Zero; no one in the area felt they had sufficient knowledge of how to proceed. Within minutes of being notified; we were told ZZZ ATCT was ATC Zero and we had their airspace. This was confusing because why would the Center take the Tower's airspace and not the TRACON? We were then told [the TRACON] and ZZZ ATCT were both ATC Zero and we had the airspace. We were asking how to both go ATC Zero at the same time and where is the relief briefing or call from [the TRACON] to apprise of the traffic. No one in charge knew. We were then told ZZZ ATCT was open but the TRACON was ATC Zero and we had their airspace. We told the FLM we needed the proper sector opened to take over [the TRACON] airspace; he told us to open it but no one knew how. We paged back a Controller that had run some ATC Zero practice problems to open the sector. He was back with in minutes and before he could get the sector open; [the TRACON] took the airspace back. The total elapsed time of ATC ZERO was 3 minutes. This was a chaotic and confusing situation. It felt as if no one in charge; or that the FLM or OMIC had a clue what was going on or how to proceed. This was also the 3rd time within a month that the TRACON has declared ATC ZERO. The procedures need to be simplified so they are understandable. Adjacent area FLMs need to be trained on ATC Zero if they are going to be in charge of our area. [The Center] needs to understand what happens with ATC Zero and what the proper steps are. Even though there is an ATC Zero document; no one in charge that day even looked at it. I am not sure they know where it is. Controllers need more training on procedures. Quick briefings from those with limited knowledge are of no use. No one remembers a 5 minute confusing briefing. We need DISYM time for this. Management needs more training.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.