1 building of NJ senior citizens defies evacuation

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) - August 27, 2011

The manager of The Views at 101 said just before 10 p.m. that the power was out.

Office manager and tenant Martha Lewis previously said that more than 100 seniors were defying requests from police and Gov. Chris Christie that they leave.

Residents of at least one other senior citizens' high-rise in the city were defying the evacuation. At Best of Life Park, residents held a "Goodnight Irene" party Saturday. It wasn't immediately clear if that building also lost power.

The manager of one Atlantic City senior citizens home says all 80 residents there are defying evacuation orders.

Dorothea Arlotta says the residents of the 13-story Best of Life Park have worries about losing power or having some broken windows.

But they would rather wait out Hurricane Irene with their friends and caretakers than to go to an unfamiliar high school or college gym.

It would be traumatic for them to leave, she says - and more traumatic if something bad happens away from home.

She says residents feel a bit protected from wind by other nearby high-rise buildings.

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