Students at a high school in New York were forced to study remotely after their classrooms were repurposed as housing for 2,000 migrants.
The decision was made amid fears that a migrant tent at Floyd Bennett Field would collapse due to the ongoing trio of storms which are causing havoc across the US.
The migrants were sent instead to the second-floor gym at James Madison High School five miles away.
Mayor Eric Adams told reporters that the move was done out of an “overabundance of caution”.
'This is f****d up': New York students forced to study remotely as school repurposed for migrant housing
Reuters
“We want to make sure people are safe”, he said.
City Hall called the migrants “guests” and said the stay was only a temporary one.
“The health and safety of migrants in our care is always a top priority, which is why we are currently overseeing the relocation of 1,900 guests from the humanitarian emergency response and relief center at Floyd Bennett Field due to an updated forecast with increased wind speeds estimated to be at over 70 MPH tonight,” they said in a statement.
A local resident, named only as Rob, slammed the decision to shut the school: “This is f****d up.”
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Nearly 2,000 migrants are evacuated by school buses from tents at Floyd Bennett Field to a local high school in preparation for a storm
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“It’s a litmus test. They are using a storm, a legitimate situation, where they are testing this out. I guarantee you they’ll be here for the entire summer.
“There’s 1,900 people getting thrown into my neighbourhood, half a block from where I live and we don’t know who they are,” he said.
“They’re not vetted. A lot of them have criminal records and backgrounds and we don’t even know.”
At around 5.00pm, the migrants began their evacuation whilst NYC school officials announced the switch to remote learning.
One angered woman screamed at buses full of migrants that arrived at the school an hour later.
“How do you feel? Does it feel good?” the woman shouted, according to the New York Post.
Mayor Eric Adams told reporters that the move was done out of an 'overabundance of caution'
Wiki Commons images/ Metropolitan Transportation Authority of the State of New York“How does it feel that you kicked all the kids out of school tomorrow? Does it feel good? I hope you feel good. I hope you will sleep very well tonight!”
Powerful storms have brought snow, rain and wind across parts of the eastern US and Canada, with formidable wind gusts of up to 60mph.
All 50 states have been put on weather alerts due to the storm.
“To be clear, this relocation is a proactive measure being taken out of an abundance of caution to ensure the safety and well-being of individuals working and living at the center,” City Hall spokeswoman Kayla Mamelak said.
“The families are already in the process of being temporarily relocated and will continue to be provided with essential services and support,” Mamelak added.
“The relocation will continue until any weather conditions that may arise have stabilized and the facility is once again fit for living.”