Community Corner

Hurricane Sandy: Shelter From The Storm

The Red Cross shelter at East Lyme Middle School was and remains busy.

 

The Red Cross Regional Emergency Shelter opened on Sunday at East Lyme Middle School to serve Montville and neighboring towns.

The shelter's population swelled unexpectedly when New London's shelter closed down because there was some question as to how well the generators were working. 

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

Dawn Davis, East Lyme shelter director, said 232 people spent last night at the shelter, including 60 people who were brought by bus from New London. The shelter's animal population increased also. The pet-friendly shelter gave save harbor to 14 dogs, one cat, and a hamster.

Davis said that as power outages continue, the shelter is expecting to see more people coming in today and throughout the week.

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

"It could be that we wind up with a whole other wave of people again," Davis said. 

Paul Winfrey of Montville came to the shelter when it first opened.

"The staff is excellent, friendly, the food is great. It's like being at a motel without paying the bill!" 

Winfrey, who was getting ready for a breakfast of fruit, waffles and pancakes, granola bars, and coffee, said he is planning to stay at the shelter for the next few days and many residents are being advised to remain at the shelter at least until this afternoon. Many people will be going home to no power at this point.

The shelter is well-organized, however, and well-prepared to handle additional residents. "We have another 470 cots in the gymnasium," Davis said. "We have been so well-supported between people coming in and helping, shelter residents are volunteering, we have lots of donations, and the food's been really good. We have a kitchen staff that's really top notch." 

A lot of people are now coming into the shelter to use the showers. With 200 people at the shelter on the shower sign-up sheet, however, there's a long wait. Emergency management in East Lyme has the option to open the high school for showers if the issue becomes pressing, which looks likely at this point. 


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