Politics & Government

Holmdel High School is Transformed into Area Evacuation Shelter

On Friday night, local people began filing into the high school, lugging belongings and pets.

On Friday night, the first refugees from impending Hurricane Irene trudged through Holmdel High School doors with their bags, resigned to settle in for a long weekend. 

In the wide-open space of the Commons, Red Cross volunteers were hurriedly finalizing accommodations in the county-designated shelter. Officers from the county Sheriff's Dept. and Holmdel Police Dept. were milling about, some distributing pieces of pizza. The vibe was one of anxiety, even though it was only August 26 and it would be many hours until the predicted heavy rain and wind arrived from Hurricane Irene. 

"I don't want to be here," said Jamie Olsen, 20, of Keansburg, who was swept out of her second floor apartment she shares with her two disabled parents and grandmother, all wheelchair-bound, and the family's three cats, in cages. 

Find out what's happening in Holmdel-Hazletwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

She was groaning about the situation to her dutiful boyfriend Alex Williamson, 21, who had taken a bus from Brooklyn to help her get the family out. He sat down the stairs in the sunken room typically used as an art gallery, head in hands, but uncomplaining about the situation. "I'm okay with it," he said, sweetly.  

A dozen other people had laid claim to spaces in the room, some of them elderly. Some were sitting on the blue cots. A member of the Medical Reserver Corps, Pam Rossano, RN of Riverview Hospital, was crossing through the space protecting her bandaged hand, which she had hurt unfolding beds. But she would not say much about it; instead she had good things to say about two teenagers who did much of the physical work of unfolding cots.

Find out what's happening in Holmdel-Hazletwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

But she was concerned about the bathroom accessibility for the most feeble people, and worried how they would get along without a lot of assistance. "There are a lot of medically fragile people here," she said. 

In the Commons, a large screen TV as set up for entertainment. Down the hall, the new gymnasium was ready for more overnight guests. As many as 1500 could be accommodated at the high school, said police. 

Those with mental challenges were in the Satz lunchroom, with special helpers. 

Holmdel's Office of Emergency Management Director Mike Simpson was floating around, tailed by a small crowd and constantly interrupted with questions. Deputy Mayor Serena DiMaso, a volunteer with the township First Aid squad, and Committeeman Rocco Pascucci, a physician, were standing in the center of the buzzing Commons. Police Chief John Mioduszewski was on hand to help. 

Bruce McLeod, a volunteer with the American Radio Relay League, said he was monitoring reports from the Monmouth County Office of Emergency Management, among other weather and news reports, but said there would be much more to say tomorrow. "I'll be back," he said. 


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