Approximately 50 people with disabilities have volunteered to spend the night at a shelter.
The Hillsborough Municipal Complex will host an overnight emergency exercise for people with disabilities. (File photo)HILLSBOROUGH -- Taking steps to ensure that those with disabilities are cared for during a disaster, the Alliance Center for Independence and the Somerset County Office of Emergency Management will host their second emergency shelter overnight simulation exercise on Friday at the Hillsborough Municipal Complex.
The overnight drill will begin at 5 p.m. and run through 9 a.m. Saturday.
Approximately 50 people with disabilities have volunteered to spend a night at the shelter, which will be staffed by volunteers from a number of Somerset County agencies engaged in emergency response operations during a crisis.
Last year, the Alliance Center for Independence hosted an emergency shelter overnight simulation at Rutgers University.
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Participating agencies will include the Somerset County Office of Emergency Management, the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, local social service agencies and other stakeholders. Funding for the simulation is provided by PSEG.
The exercise is geared towards making shelter volunteers aware of the specific needs many people with disabilities have and how to meet those needs in an emergency sheltering operation.
"We are grateful that Somerset county and state agencies have joined ACI in addressing the issues of individuals with disabilities during a disaster," said Carole Tonks, executive director of the Alliance Center for Independence. "We look forward to a great learning experience for people with disabilities and emergency responders."
For additional information about the event or about services for the disabled, call the Alliance Center for Independence at 732-738-4388 or visit www.adacil.org.
Dave Hutchinson may be reached at dhutchinson@njadvancemedia.com.Follow him on Twitter @DHutch_SL. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
