Hurricane Irene Shelters

Post date: Sep 6, 2011 7:19:04 PM

West Orange C.E.R.T. was deployed to staff two shelters in West Orange for any residents that ended up displaced from their homes as a result of the hurricane. The shelters were located at the High School, a location which also allowed sheltering of pets, and Roosevelt Middle School. The High School received cots and blankets from American Red Cross, while Roosevelt was given cots from Essex County.

Saturday afternoon we helped to prepare the buildings for residents, working with Board of Education staff and food service staff as everyone geared up for the potential hurricane related problems and the potential need to shelter and feed Township residents. Throughout the night of Saturday, August 27th and into the morning of Sunday, August 28th we staffed both shelters until the storm had largely moved through the area. Around 10am Sunday it was clear that the need for sheltering was not going to be widespread, so we consolidated into a single shelter at the High School, keeping that open until 9pm Sunday night.

We had 8 C.E.R.T. members present in the shelters at different times over the weekend and provided shelter for 10 people and 2 dogs