Shelter from the Storm

Residents with absolutely no place else to go, will get rides to a regional shelter tonight, emergency management officials announced this morning.

Starting at 11 p.m. (August 27) the Millburn High School will be open as a reception center for people needing shelter, but officials stress that it is meant only for people with “no other place to go.”

The high school itself will not be the shelter. Residents who need a place to stay overnight will be processed at the high school and sent via school bus to a regional American Red Cross shelter in Morris County, said Millburn Police Lt. Peter Eakley with the Office of Emergency Management.

“We really want to encourage people to have a plan and go where they will be safe. If they have no other place to go, they come to Millburn High School,” he said.

Residents who do need assistance at the high school will be meet by the Boy Scouts of Troop 17, who will help be assisting Red Cross officials, Eakley said.

Emergency Management officials also want to make it clear that no pets, other than service animals will be allowed and people need to make other arrangements for their animals.

“In the event, people have no other alternative they can contact the Millburn Police Department for Animal Control Assistance, but please know we have limited animal resources,” Eakley said.

There are very few spaces in the pound Millburn shares with Livingston and at a few local vets, so it is best to make different arrangements, he said.

“People are going to have to help us out on this one,” Eakley said. “We cannot take pets. If they need to come to the shelter, they cannot bring their pets.”

Eakley also reminds people are also reminded to bring any medications that they may require or anything else they feel they might need overnight.

“Again,” he said. “Residents are urged to only use this as a last alterative.“