Schools

Holmdel Schools as Emergency Shelters: BOE Weighs Implications

During Hurricane Irene in August, more than 600 Bayshore area evacuees spent the weekend at Holmdel High School. What if that happened during the school year?

Whether the Board of Education should continue -- or withdraw -- an agreement with the American Red Cross to offer its high school complex as an emergency shelter was informally discussed at its meeting Wednesday. 

Superintendent Barbara Duncan praised the way Holmdel schools staff responded to its neighbors in need during the forced evacuation of some low-lying Bayshore areas prior to, and during, Hurricane Irene Aug. 26-28.

But she raised the question whether the Board of Education wishes to fully consider how an emergency could turn the schools over to a shelter operation during the school year, impacting the district's calendar and disrupting township parents' working schedules if they had to stay home with their children. 

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"I would be remiss if I didn't ask the board to consider the 'what-ifs'," she said.

Several board members spoke in favor of keeping the agreement. Said board member Ana Vander Woude:  "I realize there will be some inconveniences incurred by us -- closures, having to clean the schools, things like this -- but I think that's philosophically what we do as a people to help people in our community." Board member Ray Tai added, "We may not realize the implications by providing this service, but I also agree with Ana. When disaster strikes, we all have to chip in."

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Duncan said, "I just want to point out that people make plans for the summer. We're going to get, I believe, push back from the community if that becomes the reason [the school year is extended]."

Board President Barbara Garrity said she agreed with allowing the facilities to be used to help the community, and believed that the school complex was the likely the best place for a shelter. "I honestly don't see a good alternative to us."

District attorney Martin Barger explained the pros and cons of having a contract with the Red Cross, in his view. "The Red Cross is in charge and the Red Cross is responsible for the facility, so in that respect there is more control. But by the same token if you have a contract with the Red Cross you are always going to be 'the facility.' Whereas if you don't have a contract the Red Cross the likelihood of the OEM using it are not as great," he said.

"But keep in mind in either circumstance, if that building is needed it's going to be used, whether you like it or not."

In an interview Thursday, Holmdel Township OEM Director Michael Simpson confirmed he is empowered by federal and state statutes to commandeer township schools by issuing a formal declaration of emergency. Which, he said, he would not hesitate to do, Red Cross contract or not. "The Bayshore OEMs meet regularly. Our principle is we will assist each other in any way possible, if events occur," he said.

Storm shelters are pre-designated by county OEM officials because of location and construction. One of the most valued assets at Holmdel High is its backup generator, acquired years ago because of frequent power interruptions in the leafy township -- an asset that a comparable complex like Brookdale Community College does not possess.  "The school complex is next to the State Police, the Arts Center, the Parkway, and the intersection of Holmdel and Crawfords Corner Roads, where evacuees would come down." 

Simpson said that until its closure, the enormous Lucent building down the road with its bomb-proof glass and emergency services, "a self-contained city," was the area's designated shelter.

In the discussion at the Sept. 14 meeting, some board members said they believed that the 600 evacuees would have stayed longer at the high school if the school's back-up generator did not fail during the height of the storm Saturday night, forcing the county to transport the evacuees to the Colts Neck High School.

But Simpson said that is a misunderstanding. By Sunday, certain towns were allowing residents to drive back home. Those who had cars and could go home went home, and the rest went to Colts Neck, which was a transfer point for buses taking people to different towns. "The only people who remained at Colts Neck were residents of Keansburg," he said. "To the best of my knowledge were any shelters open longer than Monday or Tuesday."

Schools are not used for long term shelters, Simpson said.

At board Vice President Robin Wetmore's suggestion, the board will delay any decisions until after a meeting called by the Freehold Regional Schools Superintendent, which oversees Colts Neck High School. A meeting is requested to be held with the county schools superintendent office, county officials, the Red Cross, the Office of Emergency Management and school districts. 

The board will also consider enhancing their existing emergency contingency plans, last put to use during the H1N1 virus potential threat, which called for online lesson plans if students had to work from home. 


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