Thursday, November 1st, 2012

UPDATE 5:15 pm: Thanks to Zoë for posting this in the comments section below:

Per John Jay’s website:

“We are of the few designated “Special Needs” centers across the City now equipped with the medical personnel, supplies and equipment to deal with evacuees that might be sent here from health care facilities across the city that were hard hit. We expect to be serving as a Special Needs shelter and evacuation center at least through Saturday and perhaps longer.”

Full details at http://johnjay.jjay.cuny.edu/emergency/moreinfo.aspx

UPDATE 4:37 pm: From MUW reader and frequent tweeter @TovahGo (even though she lives on the East Side now):

PS 118 is closed. All evacuees xferred to Wash Hts if unable to go home. Just finished a shift there.

Posted yesterday and Tuesday about three evacuation shelters on the Upper West Side that were looking for volunteers.

It’s been hard to get concrete details on what their needs are, but I just stopped by the one located at Louis D. Brandeis HS (145 W. 84th, between Amsterdam & Columbus) and got an update.

The shelter on West 84th is actually being closed sometime tonight, with people there being transferred to a shelter set up at the High School of Graphic Communication Arts (439 W.  49th, between 9th & 10th Avenues).

The people I spoke to at 84th Street did not have any information about what’s going on at the other two UWS shelters (John Jay College at 445 W. 59th and IS 118 at 154 W. 93rd), but my best guess is that anyone there is likely also getting transferred tonight.

Again, that is a GUESS on my part — if anyone has better information, please let me know.

See updates above — IS 118 closed, John Jay serving “special needs” evacuees.

My thoughts are based on a note MUW reader Erica sent in earlier today:

“Bloomberg just said #of people in make shift shelters is low so they’re condensing from 76 down to 15, but didn’t provide specifics as to where.”

I wish I had more details, but it seems as though communication between the various shelters isn’t very good.

People at 84th Street told me didn’t need anyone now, but there might be a need starting around 5:00 or 6:00 pm when some city employees currently staffing the location go home. They expect the shelter to be closed by 10:00 pm, but that was just an estimate.

It would appear that if you’re looking to volunteer, your best bet might be to head down to 49th Street later this evening. That said, I simply don’t know what their needs are. If they have any volunteer shortfalls, they are likely to be in the evening and overnight hours.

Again, if anyone has additional information, or can report on the status of shelters at John Jay College or IS 118, please let me know.

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