Three groups of schoolchildren from Caerphilly County Borough have been stranded in New York because of Hurricane Sandy.
Pupils on a history trip with St Martin’s School and pupils from Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni have been reported as being safe and well.
The St Martin’s group of 76 school children, which includes eight teachers, arrived at JFK airport on Saturday and have been left stranded in the Marriott Courtyard hotel in Lyndhurst, New Jersey, because of the hurricane.
The children, aged between 14 and 18, had managed to explore the city briefly on Sunday before the weather hit.
Pupils from Ysgol Gyfun Cwn Rhymni and Lewis School Pengam have also been reported as safe and well.
Just got this from @kathmooree: @ysgol_lsp just phoned hotel up they are all fine and they are all asleep great news!! #teamLSP
— Lewis School Pengam (@Ysgol_LSP) October 30, 2012
St Martin’s head of history Matthew Ferris, who is on the trip, has said the children are coping well and are safe.
However plans for the group to travel to Philadelphia and Washington, from where they plan to fly home on Friday, are now uncertain.
Mr Ferris told the Daily Mail: “It’s a real shame for the children but we have to put safety first.
“We have ordered in some pizza and they are making trips to the deli over the road where they serve those massive American style sandwiches.
“The PE teacher who is with us has kindly offered to supervise them in the swimming pool and we have organised games of charades.
“There’s a bit of Dunkirk spirit and the kids know we are in the middle of a major storm, so they are being understanding even if they are disappointed.
“With modern technology most of them have been able to get in touch with their parents over the Internet, or I’ve been emailing colleagues back home who have spoken to their relatives.”
Cllr Colin Elsbury, who is chair of governors at St Martin’s, said morale among the children was high.
He said: “They are all fine and well. They had a bit of a power cut during the night but they are far away from the evacuation zone.”
A spokesperson for Caerphilly County Borough Council said: “Currently there are young people from three Caerphilly county borough school’s visiting New York – St Martins School, Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni and Lewis School Pengam.
“Representatives of all three school’s have been in touch to confirm that all pupils and staff are well and in good spirits. At present the advice is still to remain within the hotels until otherwise advised.
“Representatives from the school are in regular contact with members of the school management teams, who will arrange for the school’s websites to be updated with any additional information.”
In total from the three schools there are 258 pupils, staff and volunteers.
Reminds me of the time when snow prevented us using the motorway go get to Washington, since when I'm much less willing to criticise us for our "failings". The Yanks are certaintly not as good as they think they are; so often, they just give up. Not that it did not rain quite a bit in parts of New York. Of course, the Americans have never heard of global warming !