Assistance for Severe Weather and Flooding that occurred in December 2023 and January 2024 Residents of Kent, Providence, and Washington counties, who were affected by severe storms and flooding that occurred between December 17-19, 2023, and between January 9-13, 2024, can apply for federal assistance. Homeowners and renters who received property loss or damages by either disaster in those counties have until May 20, 2024, to apply. When applying for assistance, you must describe which damage(s) happened on which date to ensure you’re applying under the correct disaster.FEMA Assistance - There are several ways for homeowners and renters to apply.1. Visit a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) at one of the following locations: a. CCRI, Lincoln Campus, (Room 1304), 1762 Louisquisset Pike, Lincoln, RI 02865 (Open: 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday; 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturdays.) b. Coventry Town Hall Annex, 1675 Flat River Road, Coventry, RI 02879 (Open: 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday; 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturdays.) 2. Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. Help is available in most languages. 3. Go online to DisasterAssistance.gov (also in Spanish).4. Download the FEMA mobile app (also in Spanish) at Google Play or the Apple App Store. To view an accessible video on how to apply visit Three Ways to Register for FEMA Disaster Assistance - YouTube SBA Assistance - Ways to apply for low-interest disaster loans available to businesses and residents in Rhode Island 1. Visit the Business Recovery Center (BRC) at: North Providence Public Safety Complex 1835 Mineral Spring Avenue North Providence, RI 02904 - Hours of operation: 9 a.m.– 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays. Closed Sundays. 2. Apply online and receive additional disaster assistance information at SBA.gov/disaster. 3. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 4. Email: disastercustomerservice@sba.gov To view an accessible video on how to apply for SBA visit Reasons to apply for a SBA Loan.
State of Rhode Island Awarded Federal Disaster Declaration External AffairsRhode Island Emergency Management AgencyPress Release State of Rhode Island Awarded Federal Disaster DeclarationFrom Severe Weather in January 2024Cranston, RI – On May 9, 2024, President Joseph Biden approved Rhode Island's request to include Public Assistance (PA) for the Major Disaster Declaration from the severe storms and flooding event from January 9, 2024 – January 13, 2024. The Declaration makes federal funding available from the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) PA Program. Eligible applicants from Kent, Newport, and Washington Counties can apply. Applicants must prepare and submit an official request for determination of eligibility from FEMA.Eligible municipalities, state agencies, tribal communities, and some private non-profit organizations in the listed counties can apply for reimbursement of costs incurred before, during, and after the severe weather event in January. These costs may include but are not limited to, storm preparedness, debris removal, overtime costs for personnel due to work associated with the weather event, repairs to weather-damaged buildings and infrastructure, and projects to reduce the impact of future damage from similar weather-related events."Whenever and wherever severe weather strikes, my Administration is prepared and ready to support affected residents and communities," said Governor McKee. "Thanks to President Biden and FEMA, these federal funds can help Rhode Islanders and businesses get their lives back on track and help our state move forward.""The FEMA PA Program enables municipalities, state agencies, and certain private non-profit organizations to request reimbursement for the expenses incurred in repairing damages caused by the severe weather event that took place between January 9, 2024, and January 13, 2024," said Marc Pappas, the Director of RIEMA. "The RIEMA Recovery Branch, with the support and assistance of local and state partners, worked diligently to gather and review damage assessments and submitted a request for federal assistance to FEMA. We are grateful and appreciative to have received approval."Additional information will be provided at local Applicant Briefing sessions. The sessions are currently being scheduled with local officials. For updates on Rhode Island’s recovery operations, follow the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency on Twitter (X) twitter.com/RhodeIslandEMA and Facebook facebook.com/RhodeIslandEMA or visit or visit www.riema.ri.gov.For questions, please contact RIEMA at (401) 946-9996.# # #Contact: Armand Randolph (401) 641-8269www.riema.ri.gov PR: 0524-01
Emergency Support Functions The State of Rhode Island's disaster response resources are organized into fifteen (15) Emergency Support Functions (ESFs). Each ESF is comprised of numerous public and private agencies/organizations that manage and coordinate specific categories of assistance common to all disaster or emergency events. A primary or lead agency/organization has been designated for each Emergency Support Function to ensure the coordination and delivery of goods and services to the disaster area. The following is a list and brief summary of each Emergency Support Function for the State of Rhode Island. Emergency Support Function 1- Transportation Provide situational awareness on intermodal transportation (air, rail, bus) or facilitates repairs to damage transportation systems, facilitates emergency transport of goods and resources, and assists in the coordination of emergency evacuations. Emergency Support Function 2- Communications Provides situational awareness and support on emergency communications services to organizations involved in response and recovery operations, along with providing situational awareness and support of the restoration of damaged public safety communications systems, and may support the restoration of public communications services. State Emergency Operations Center. Emergency Support Function 3- Public Works & Engineering Provides situational awareness and support on debris removal, and water and water treatment systems and services, and assists in the restoration of public works systems. Emergency Support Function 4- Firefighting Provides situational awareness and support of personnel, equipment, and supplies to agencies involved in wildland, rural, and urban firefighting operations. Emergency Support Function 5- Emergency Management Supports overall activities of state government for domestic incident management. Provides the core management and administrative functions in support of SEOC. Emergency Support Function 6- Mass Care, Emergency Assistance, Housing, & Human Services Provides situational awareness and coordinates state support for local sheltering, feeding, first aid, and human services for disaster survivors. Emergency Support Function 7- Logistics Management & Resource Support Organizes and supports timely and efficient delivery of supplies, equipment, services, and facilities. Facilitates comprehensive logistics planning, technical assistance, training, education, exercise, incident response, and sustainment that leverage the capability and resources of State and federal logistics partners, public and private stakeholders, and NGOs in support of both responders and disaster survivors. Emergency Support Function 8- Public Health & Medical Services Addresses the public health, behavioral health, and medical needs that may arise from victims, response workers, and the general public during an emergency. Provides situational awareness on operational status and/or medical surge of all healthcare facilities in the State, and coordinates fatality management services, tracks patient movement, and coordinates behavioral healthcare. Emergency Support Function 9- Search & Rescue Provides situational awareness and coordinates urban and non-urban search and rescue operation and assistance, including locating and extricating victims trapped in debris or wreckage created by a disaster, along with woodland, water, or other area search and rescue operations. Emergency Support Function 10- Oil & Hazardous Materials Response Provides situational awareness directs and or coordinates support for inspections, containment, and cleanup of all threats to the environment pertaining to all hazardous materials. Emergency Support Function 11- Agriculture & Natural Resources Provides situational awareness and coordinates support for; the protection of the state’s agricultural and natural resources during emergencies; the emergency sheltering of pet animals; animal health issues; provide technical expertise, of animal and agricultural emergency management; ensure the safety and of the state’s meat, poultry, and dairy production facilities within the state. Emergency Support Function 12- Energy Provides situational awareness and coordinates with the private sector and other ESFs to provide emergency supplies of power and fuel. Assists in the restoration of power and fuel systems. Maintains current information on power outages and impacts to the energy sector and its infrastructure. Emergency Support Function 13- Public Safety & Security Provides public safety and armed escort for emergency workers or transport caravans as needed. Additionally, provides security for emergency facilities, and assists in general law enforcement services (patrol, traffic, investigation, crowd control operations). Assists and/or coordinates local law enforcement with mutual aid. Emergency Support Function 14- Recovery Provides and manages the breadth of short and long term recovery service support required during the recovery phase of an emergency event or disaster. Emergency Support Function 15- External Affairs Distributes accurate and timely information regarding emergencies to the public through the media and through other available means. Coordinates with local municipalities and/or agencies that have requested state assistance in releasing information to the public. Provides an accurate and consistent flow of information to citizens before, during, and after an emergency or disaster. Establishes and manages the JIC, coordinates the dissemination of all disaster-related information to the media and the public. Emergency Support Function 16- Military Support Provides situational awareness on RING status, assists in the coordination and deployment of National Guard soldiers ordered to State Active Duty by the Governor. Assists in the coordination and deployment of National Guard soldiers to assist communities and the state as directed by the SEOC Operations Section. Emergency Support Function 17- Historic Culture and Preservation Ensure the protection of cultural resources and historic properties within the state. Emergency Support Function 18- Business and Industry Coordinates the actions of local, state and federal agencies and organizations to provide immediate and short-term assistance for the needs of business, industry, and economic stabilization.