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 what 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: a. Cumberland Public Library, 1464 Diamond Hill Road, Cumberland, RI 02864 (Open: 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturdays) b. William Winsor Elementary School, 562 Putman Pike, Greenville, RI 02828 (Open: 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday; 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturdays.) c. 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.) d. Knightsville Manor (Community Room), 85 Briggs Street, Cranston, RI 02920 (Open: 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9 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.
Evacuation There may be times before, during or after a disaster when it is unsafe to stay in your home, school, or workplace. In Rhode Island, the decision about whether to evacuate is made by local officials. Evacuation notices can happen quickly and without warning, so it is important to be prepared. Download the Evacuation Plan & Checklist Guide to prepare before an evacuation order is made. Evacuation Maps In 2013, Rhode Island's 21 coastal communities received community-wide evacuation maps from the United States Army Corps of Engineer (USACE) as a product of the Hurricane Evacuation Study. The maps show Hurricane Evacuation Zones that are recommended to be evacuated from during potential worst-case Hurricane Surge Inundation. Evacuation Zone “A”, shown in red, is recommended to be evacuated prior to an expected category 1 or 2 hurricane. Evacuation Zone “B”, shown in yellow is recommended to be evacuated prior to an expected category 3 or 4 hurricane. For more information on the hurricane categories view the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. To view a local evacuation map click on the corresponding community name below. Evacuation Maps Barrington Little Compton Portsmouth Bristol Middletown Providence Charlestown Narragansett South Kingstown Cranston Newport Tiverton East Greenwich New Shoreham Warren East Providence North Kingstown Warwick Jamestown Pawtucket Westerly Evacuation Plan & Checklist Guide PDF file, less than 1mbmegabytes