Hurricane Irene: Their Stories
Hurricane Irene: Their Stories
August 29, 2011
More than 1,200 people – strangers in many cases – of different
ages and races and faiths and economic backgrounds shared space in
the Rec Center and Esby gym at Rowan University during Hurricane
Irene.
For two days or so, they were maybe 60 miles from their homes, most
in Atlantic City, some unaware of what condition their places were
in, some in touch with family and friends via cell phone, a few
with laptop computers and other devices.
Many people worked and volunteered to make their stay as easy as
possible, Rowan employees, students and alumni; State Police
officers; Girl Scouts, religious leaders, neighbors, students from
elsewhere.
- - - -
Additional Stories:
Phila. Inquirer Op-Ed by President Houshmand
Rowan community steps up to assist huricane evacuees
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Some spent hours. Some spent days. Some brought their spouses
and children to help. Some walked in off the street because it was
the right thing to do. Some dropped off kids’ toys and diapers and
hamburgers. All came together.
The following are some snapshots of the people who called Rowan
home during what was the weather event of the century and of the
people who helped care for them.
***
The Girl Scout
Dressed in beige flip flops, beige shorts and a green Girl Scouts
tee-shirt, Janice Smith, of Glassboro, had a critical job during
the Irene evacuations at Rowan. She was on diaper duty.
Smith oversees five troops for TriState Girl Scouts and recruits
and organizes troops. A retired Rowan employee, she still is on the
University’s email list, so when she saw a message asking for
volunteers, she did what Girl Scouts do: she helped.
Smith emailed 70 troop leaders telling them what the evacuation
site needed and she headed to campus.
On Sunday morning, backed by stacks of all sizes of Huggies, CVS
and ShopRite diapers and more, she handed out diapers and wipes and
other personal products in the hall between the Rec Center and Esby
Gym.
“I always like to do things for other people. When I got the email,
I thought this would be a great thing to do,” Smith said. “It’s a
great feeling to be able to help people. Some people were so
grateful.”
Smith was impressed by the outpouring from the community,
especially after viewers saw updates on the evacuation site on
television news. “Things just showed up. The people in the
community have been great,” she said, noting that during this rare
weather occurrence people in the region worked well together.
***
The Couple
No matter how well you’re cared for, it’s not easy being an
evacuee. It’s probably less so when you are coping with health
issues.
Tom Taylor, 69, of North Cape May, drove to campus with his wife,
Peggy, 66, and dog, Heidi, on Friday and stayed through Sunday, the
couple in the Rec Center/Esby Gym and the five-year-old part
Chihuahua, part “who knows” in a makeshift kennel in Education
Hall.
Tom Taylor, a Vietnam-era Army vet, uses a wheelchair and has heart
and lung problems, on oxygen for the latter.
The parents of two and grandparents of 12 were philosophical about
being so far from home during such bad weather.
“Take it day by day,” was Tom’s approach.
“Just laugh it off,” was Peggy’s.
Still they were anxious about their home, located 10 houses from
the Delaware Bay, and had planned to hit the road as soon as they
heard from a neighbor that they had power again.
Even through they wanted to return home, Tom noted, “Everybody’s
been great, all the employees here. All (of the) volunteers have
been . . . “ he said, giving a thumbs up signal.
***
The State Police
New Jersey State Police Det. Sgt. Francis McGovern, based out of
Woodstown, arrived at Rowan 6 a.m. on Sunday. He and some State
Police colleagues joined Rowan police, public safety officers,
Sheriff’s Department officers and others to keep the peace.
“The officers who have been assigned here have done a phenomenal
job in making sure security was taken care of,” said McGovern,
standing with officers on the edge of the Rec Center floor.
(They) made sure security needs were met, but also they made sure
that personal needs were met.”
***
The Youth
Christopher Ball, 21, from Clayton, set out on Sunday morning to
check on a friend in Glassboro after making sure his own home was
safe. Then he headed to Rowan.
“Around my house, nothing was really damaged at all,” he said. “I
figured while I was here I might as well volunteer.” He spent
the early hours of Sunday checking on people, talking, seeing if
they needed assistance.
***
The Neighbors
Teresa Kubicz Koscielny, 80, Vicky Schneider, 71, and a third
friend all live on the same floor in the same apartment complex in
Atlantic City.
As Hurricane Irene was fast approaching the New Jersey coast, the
manager of their building got on speakers and told the residents
that they had to leave or the police would take them out.
“We knew that he meant business,” Schneider said.
Hurricane weekend, they all boarded the same bus for Rowan
University, grabbed cots side by side by side and settled in for a
few days, changes of clothes and shoes in tow, donated books and
magazines added to their belongings.
Koscielny is a Holocaust survivor from Poland. Schneider was born
in Ecuador. They both are widows and moms and grandmoms.
A lot of the people in the area surrounding their cots in the Rowan
Rec Center also came from their apartment building, and Koscielny
said the residents shared some local gossip as they waited out the
weather.
The ladies had nothing but praise for the care they received.
“You did so much,” Koscielny said.
Schneider admitted to some tears, but the good kind. “When you’re
alone here at night, you cry — so many nice people,” she
said.
***
The Mayor
Glassboro Mayor Leo McCabe is a familiar face around campus.
The weekend of Hurricane Irene was no different. McCabe visited the
Rowan evacuation site on Saturday and Sunday, his wife, Mary,
joining him on at least one trip.
“I think that Rowan University administrators and staff and
students did just an outstanding job in feeding and caring for
(the) residents who came in from Atlantic City,” McCabe said. “The
organization is just terrific. This was a very serious situation,
and it could have been disastrous.”
***
The Clergy
Black State Police chaplain cap on his head, navy State Police
jacket on his back, Msgr. Michael Mannion, director of community
relations for the Diocese of Camden and in residence at Mary, Queen
of All Saints Parish in Pennsauken, did what he was used to doing
as chaplain of Rowan’s Newman House from 1985-93: he ministered to
the community.
Father Mike, as many know him, enlisted a couple of Protestant
ministers from the Atlantic City area to visit the evacuation site
as well (the pastor and an associate pastor from nearby St.
Bridget’s also visited). Together they coordinated brief prayer
services for those who were interested in attending, talked with
evacuees and otherwise tried to comfort those staying at
Rowan.
“It was important they were here,” he said of the clergy from
Atlantic City, from where most of those at Rowan had arrived.
About 20 people gathered around the clergy during the brief
service, and others listened from their cots. Msgr. Mannion
reflected without irony on one of the Scripture passages a female
evacuee chose to read: John:14 — “Do not let your hearts be
troubled.”
***
The Physician
Michael Monte Carlo’s two kids were upset their dad had to leave
their West Deptford home during Hurricane Irene. At 6 and 2 ½,
there was no way they could really grasp why he was leaving.
But Dr. Michael Monte Carlo could. The Kennedy Health System family
physician on Sunday was in charge of the health care unit/triage
center in the Rowan Rec Center, located in a large room where
people normally take Pilates and other classes.
Set up M.A.S.H. style and manned by Kennedy, Rowan, Cooper and
other medical personnel, the health care unit served close to 150
people on Sunday, those with complaints about blood pressure,
asthma, stress and gastrointestinal disorders.
“For a very catastrophic event, I thought the unit ran very
smoothly,” Monte Carlo said. “We had directions of where to go. We
had directions of where to send people. We had protocol treatment
in place rather than send them to the hospital. We had all the
appropriate resources provided by Kennedy and Underwood (Memorial
Hospital), so we didn’t put a strain on the surrounding hospital
systems (for minor issues).”