High School Bursting With Hurricane Irene Refugees

In the hallways, the cafeteria, classrooms, gymnasium, the auditorium – Wall High School is overflowing with early refugees from Hurricane Irene, which isn’t expected to hit the Jersey Shore until after dark.

Police Chief Robert Brice said the high school, one of three emergency shelters set up throughout the county, is already at capacity. Those residents who are under mandatory evacuation orders should make arrangements with friends or relatives, if at all possible, Brice said.

Anyone not under a mandatory order to evacuate, Brice said, should stay put.

Melissa McCann, a volunteer from the Red Cross – which is running the center -- said the some 200 people spent the night at the High School Friday and busloads have been coming in steadily ever since.

“They’ve been coming so fast we haven’t had a chance to get an accurate count,’’ McCann said.

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EDITOR'S NOTE: The high school shelter, which is brimming with people and pets, is in need of bottled water, kitty litter, juices for kids, old blankets or sheets for pets. If you can spare a few hours or some supplies, they would be well-used and appreciated.

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No one seemed to know exactly how many people were at the center Saturday afternoon. Some said it was more than 300, others said it was higher.

Sandra Brower, the school district’s assistant superintendent, is running a pet drop-off, because of the high demand for evacuees’ pets.

“Peoples’ pets are like family to them and I know the trauma of children who are separated from their pets during a crisis like this,’’ Brower said. “So I came down to set this up because the shelter wasn’t accepting pets.’’

There’s a classroom that has been converted into a dog room with several canines, a family staying with several cats.  All animals are caged, but dogs are allowed to run in the high school’s courtyard.

Evacuees are photographed along with their pets as part of the registration process, Brower said.

Victor “Buddy” Amato, of the Monmouth County Society For The Prevention Of Cruelty To Animals, stopped in to offer assistance and praise the make-do program.

“You’re doing a great job here,’’ Amato said after touring the make-shift shelter.

Brower, who had not planned on setting up a pet shelter, said she has called on teachers and other volunteers to help out.

“We have called on people to help out if they can, and they have come,’’ Brower said. “It’s just amazing how people have come out, no questions, and have stayed.’’

Staffers from Wall’s two first aid squads – Wall Community First Aid and Wall First Aid & Rescue – were circulating throughout the high school, taking medical histories and a census of those who were ill or in need of special services.

“We’ll have people here for the duration,’’ said Community First Aid member Hillary Addonizio.

An oxygen room, for those who require it, was being set up in a classroom Saturday afternoon.

In the school’s auditorium, there were dozens of foreign exchange students camped out on a stage floor, most peering into laptops connected to the Internet through the school’s wireless network.

Martin Kolarik, 24, was staying at a house in Pt. Pleasant Beach with about 30 other students when he learned they were being evacuated.

Kolarik, who is from Slovakia, was spending some time checking out Facebook in the hallway of the school while he talked Saturday afternoon, has been working at Jenkinson’s Boardwalk all summer. He is due to go back home at the end of September.

“Maybe sooner,’’ he said. “I just hope our house isn’t destroyed. All our stuff is there.’’