Students from Stuart Country Day School and the WW-P high schools took part in an emergency shelter exercise organized by the Red Cross of Central New Jersey.
By: Jeff Milgram
It was only a drill.
But for the 30 students from West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North and South, Stuart Country Day School and four other central New Jersey schools, the 19-hour simulated emergency shelter exercise Friday and Saturday in St. Paul Roman Catholic Church basement was a realistic test of their leadership skills and ability to work together.
The student volunteers had to set up a simulated emergency shelter to house the tenants of an apartment complex that had been damaged by fire.
The drill got under way about 4:30 p.m. Friday and didn’t end until 9 a.m. Saturday.
About 15 volunteers had to provide food, shelter and basic health needs for a like number of evacuees.
The volunteers who ran the shelter were divided into two groups one to set up the shelter and one to develop a menu, buy food and prepare the meal of rice, salad and chicken.
David Novak, director of marketing and communication for the American Red Cross of Central New Jersey, said an adult disaster volunteer acted as an adviser, but the real decisions were made by the teen-agers.
They decided where to place a processing center, a mental health station, the sleeping area and dining area, he said.
"They did a great job," Mr. Novak said.
For the teen-agers, it was a real learning experience.
"It was a great experience to learn what actually goes on in a shelter," said Matthew Chu, 14, of Plainsboro, a ninth-grade student at West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North. "There is a lot the Red Cross can do for you because you’ve lost so much."
Matthew, who is active in Red Cross student groups, was on the team that set up the shelter, using cots and supplies brought to the church from the Red Cross office in West Windsor.
"We had to help each other out to set up the shelter," he said. "It was a lot of fun."
He said he plans to stay active in the Red Cross.
"I enjoy helping others," he said.