Hurricane Irene Evacuees Hole Up In Schools, 5-Star Hotels

GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP, N.J. — Evacuees from Hurricane Irene sought refuge any place they could: with friends and family, in churches and schools, at stadiums and universities – and even some five-star hotels.

As the first rain and winds of Irene hit coastal New Jersey on Saturday, Gov. Chris Christie introduced himself as Chris at a Rutgers University gym and encouraged residents to "hang in there."

The American Red Cross had well over 150 shelters open from North Carolina to Connecticut. More than 10,000 people in New Jersey and New York were at shelters Saturday night.

For those willing to fork over big bucks for a dry dwelling, ritzy hotels provided a luxurious alternative to improvised shelters. A double room with an interior view was going for $695 per night at The Ritz-Carlton New York.

Comments

[Candide33]

06:16 AM on 08/29/2011

Next time a hurricane comes, there will be massive lose of life because people will just say.... Remember Irene?

I have been through lots of hurricanes in my life time and even though people on the gulf coast should know better, there are always bodies of naysayers washing up afterwards because too many people mistake bravery for ignorance.

[Mad-As-Heck]

02:03 PM on 08/28/2011

anglgirlie..... Just to let you know.... there is a difference between The TEA party (not even a formal party) and Republicans... I understand you might just have some difficulty grasping that concept but the two are NOT one. TEA - Taxed Enought Already! You keep supporting the raising taxes while the "Tea-party" fights to decrease the govt. hands in our pockets!

[A Dub]

04:45 PM on 08/28/2011

The Tea Party chose the republican party and the republicans were desperate enough to accept them as they could not even create their own party. Their views are that of the extreme right and there is nothing progressive about them. They are now the very extreme part of the republican party who care nothing of their consequences to cutting taxes and their extreme right views would finish destroying this country if left unchecked. They are so far right they are dangerous.

[Mad-As-Heck]

01:48 PM on 08/28/2011

The non-progressive democrats do not want the govt to help those in need, only want the govt. to help their lazy butts who need to stop relying on the govt.

[billybear515]

11:57 AM on 08/28/2011

THE RITZ CARTON IN NY SHOULD BLOW DOWN FOR CHARCHING ALL THAT MONEY IN A STATE OF ENERGANCY NO ONE SHOULD EVER GET A ROOM THERE AGAIN HOW DARE THEY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF PEOPLE UNDER THESE CONDITIONS.

[jjmdbsfla]

11:30 AM on 08/28/2011

As a news junkie, I believe the a network could dominate the ratings by focusing on all the news except this overhyped storm and inviting their viewers who are interested in the storm coverage to tune into EVERY OTHER NEWS OUTLET AND NETWORK INCLUDING CNBC!!!

[charlescph55]

11:28 AM on 08/28/2011

They turned the power off to make it look good in certain areas

[Mad-As-Heck]

01:50 PM on 08/28/2011

They turned the power off to stop further damage. When I was stationed in Roosevelt Roads Puerto Rico, the power was turned off for each storm/hurricane to detour the transformers/sub stations from blowing... far less expensive for everyone.

[Mad-As-Heck]

02:06 PM on 08/28/2011

Power was turned off to detour further damage!

[bdoug25000]

10:54 AM on 08/28/2011

I believe $695/night is their going rate. I sat out Hurricane Ivan in a tent in the No. Georgia mountains in 2005(?) That was exciting! and dangerous. Huge trees falling all over- but personally, I wouldn't have traded that tent for a room in the Ritz, because I got to feel what no amount of money can get you: Ma nature on the rampage and I survived!

[damomb01]

10:34 AM on 08/28/2011

"For those willing to fork over big bucks for a dry dwelling, ritzy hotels provided a luxurious alternative to improvised shelters. A double room with an interior view was going for $695 per night at The Ritz-Carlton New York"

Only $695 per night?! What a deal! Now this would have been an excellent story if they'd have provided those rooms at little to no cost. American greed at it's best even in tough times...WTG Ritz Carlton! Another reminder of what I'm NOT missing out on!

[Hetneo]

11:01 AM on 08/28/2011

Well it's better than standard $945 and up price. No reason to bash them that they are profiting from Irene.

[Mad-As-Heck]

01:39 PM on 08/28/2011

GREED over HUMANITY....

[mbestfrnd]

11:32 AM on 08/28/2011

Can you imagine the riff-raff that would have flocked in for a free room at the Ritz? It would have cost them millions just to repair the place. The liberal, socialist, progressive, Marxist left is always more than happy to give away someone else's money.

[Mad-As-Heck]

01:58 PM on 08/28/2011

The left would have been rioting in the streets (like in England) for anything FREE!

[anglgrl122a]

10:17 AM on 08/28/2011

Wonder if the t-repubs are against "big government" today? Oh Im sure they didnt need any help!!!

[mbestfrnd]

11:11 AM on 08/28/2011

Not from the Federal Government. Stay out and we will take care of ourselves.

[Mad-As-Heck]

01:42 PM on 08/28/2011

figures a NON-Progressive democrat would make such a statement. Lack of compassion suits you well. I do believe that any national disaster isn't PARTY Stricken!

[kevinclennon]

10:00 AM on 08/28/2011

when I read title I thoght it was going to be a good story. HP needs better editors.

[Darryl Smith]

09:54 AM on 08/28/2011

$695 and all the bed bugs you want!

[mose joseph workman]

10:31 AM on 08/28/2011

pardon me, but bed bugs are extra.

[spydrworks1067]

09:46 AM on 08/28/2011

Refuge? At $695 a night? LOL Less taxing to take cover under the pier, thanks.

[n1ne1]

09:11 AM on 08/28/2011

$695 a night, lol, you sure got ripped... there is not one place in this world worth paying that much for one night

[Hetneo]

11:02 AM on 08/28/2011

Standard price is $945.

[fpwillson]

11:44 AM on 08/28/2011

Haven't traveled much, have you?

[mowens6402]

08:28 AM on 08/28/2011

Big Whoop! 8:25 am suburb of West NYC, light breezes, trees swaying GENTLY, pool is overflowing though (all that free water), clearly power is still on. We've had worse unpulicized storms over the summer. I guess it's better to be prepared than caught with your windows open.
Water damage is probably the most serious result of this storm where I am.

[topgearrt]

08:44 AM on 08/28/2011

Im happy for you mo....a bud of mine lives on long island,255 thousand with no power there and she posted on face book 1 million with no power in the total area.......hopefully not for long,her mom does kidney dialysis for hours at a time a couple of times a week.

[ExArmyMedic]

10:29 AM on 08/28/2011

You just missed the real bullet
If ths would have been anything like Hurricane Katrina or Hugo you would have been praying for it to be over
I have seen the devastation of both first hand AFTER they were gone

Hopedale, LA did not get power until 4 months AFTER it hit, my question for you to think about is could you have handled that like those folks did. BET NOT

[amosesjr]

08:01 AM on 08/28/2011

I hope that the prices they were charging were "published rates," because if they were inflated for the storm, that is price gouging. In the Gulf Coast area, where storms are commonplace, people who try to take advantdge by inflating prices get big fines and even jail time in some cases. Hope someone is looking into the matter.

[kevinclennon]

09:59 AM on 08/28/2011

have you ever noticed pricing on back of door no need for gouging

[amosesjr]

06:08 AM on 08/31/2011

Not talking about the "rack" price.........no one pays that. I'm talking about the normal seasonal price that is actually offered. You understand what I meant.........if they were getting $500 then suddenly hiked to $695, that is gouging. If they were getting $695., then all's well.

[Hetneo]

11:03 AM on 08/28/2011

Standard price is $945, so looks like they didn't inflate them.

[amosesjr]

06:15 AM on 08/31/2011

Were they getting $945. before the storm? Think not. Qustion is: Were they getting $695. just before storm? Don't pretend to not understand me. If the price that the hotel was actually getting suddenly went up.....that's gouging......and a pretty sad way to take advantage of people in a desparate situation. If they were already getting $695., no problem.