Emergency Management Agency
Wayne Barnes, Deputy EMA Director
(401) 435-7537 E-mail: wbarnes@cityofeastprov.com
Planning Department
145 Taunton Avenue
East Providence, RI 02914
The East Providence Emergency Management Agency, housed within the Planning Department, plans and prepares for natural, manmade and terrorist disasters. The agency trains volunteers, educates the public, coordinates evacuations and the opening of shelters, provides meteorological support for the City, and works with local, state and federal agencies on emergency management initiatives.
Local Weather Hazards: The website for the National Weather Service (NWS) Office in Taunton, http://www.erh.noaa.gov/box/, displays all weather watches and warnings for the southern New England area on a regional map and provides forecasts and discussions. The site contains links to other NWS forecast offices nationwide, and to other NOAA weather-related sites including the National Hurricane Center. For local NWS Watch/Warning criteria, see our Guide to National Weather Service Advisories, Watches and Warnings.
NOAA/National Weather Service Winter Storm Preparedness : A guide on how to prepare for a major winter storm.
National Grid: To report a power outage, call 1-800-465-1212. To report an odor of natural gas, call 1-800-640-1595.
General Emergency Preparedness information is available on the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency website. The FEMA preparedness webpage, http://www.fema.gov/areyouready/ offers assistance on preparing for many different potential hazards.
Additional Preparedness Links:
Department of Homeland Security
FEMA Homepage: Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Official Flood Insurance Maps: FEMA Map Service Center
The City's five-year Hazard Mitigation Plan was approved by FEMA on May 10, 2011.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP): East Providence and all other Rhode Island municipalities participate in this FEMA-managed program, which allows residents and business owners to purchase Federally-backed flood insurance. FEMA's Floodsmart website includes clear and detailed information on this program. The City's Emergency Management Agency is available to answer general inquiries on this program, including whether a property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), which zone, and its base flood elevation. Here is a general map of East Providence FEMA Flood Zones.
Additional Local Floodplain Resources : This document includes a description of common flood areas in the City, flood safety tips and more.
City of East Providence Floodplain Ordinance : Chapter 19, Zoning; Section 19-306 through 19-315, Special Flood Hazard Areas.
FEMA Library-_Protecting Your Home and Property from Flood Damage : Mitigation ideas for reducing flood loss.
Hurricane Planning: FEMA and the Army Corps of Engineers worked with the City of East Providence produce the East Providence Hurricane Inundation Map, based on potential for tidewater inundation resulting from a direct hit from hurricanes of Categories 1, 2, 3 or 4.
The City's Hurricane Evacuation Map was prepared by the R.I. Emergency Management Agency and R.I. Dept. of Transportation. Check the "Notes" box on the lower left corner of the map as a guide to its use.