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 will need to describe what damage(s) happened on which date to ensure you’re applying under the correct disaster.FEMA Assistance - Several ways for homeowners and renters to apply. 1. Visit the Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) at: Curtis Corner Middle School 301 Curtis Corner Road Wakefield, RI 02879 - Hours of operation: 8 a.m.– 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturdays. Closed Sundays. 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), available 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.
About RIEMA Mission The mission of the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency is to reduce the loss of life and property for the whole community while ensuring that as a state we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all natural, human-caused, and technological hazards. The Director Mr. Marc R. Pappas was appointed Director of the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency on December 27, 2018. He is a retired career law-enforcement professional with twenty-two plus years of service. He has worked his way up through the ranks, first as Regional Response Coordinator, then as Chief of the Preparedness Division, then as Acting Administrator Operations Management, then his most recent position as Executive Administrator. As the second in command, he was the supervisor for Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency Sections, Branches and its 38 employees. As the Director, Mr. Pappas serves as the policy advisor to the Governor on emergency management matters and serves as the liaison between the Federal Emergency Management Agency and all local emergency management offices throughout the State. In addition, the Director oversees the coordination of various federal disaster and non-disaster grants for the State of Rhode Island. The Director also Chairs the State Interoperable Communications Committee, the State Emergency Response Commission, and is the Vice Chair of the Emergency Management Advisory Council. Originally from Pawtucket, Rhode Island, he attended LaSalle Academy, and graduated from Rhode Island College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology.