Emergency Management Agency

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.

East Providence EMA is now on Facebook! The Facebook page will include updates on any local emergencies, general EMA activities, and forecasts for non-routine weather. We'll also be uploading some pictures from local severe weather events. Find us here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/East Providence Emergency Management Agency

Local weather: 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 own Guide to National Weather Service Watches, Warnings and Advisories .

The First 72 Is On You  - Individual Preparedness Checklist from RI Emergency Management and the City of East Providence.

Coastal flooding: FEMA and the Army Corps of Engineers worked with the City to produce the East Providence Hurricane Inundation Map, based on potential for tidewater flooding resulting from a direct hit from hurricanes of Categories 1, 2, 3 or 4. An update to this map is in the works. It will not differ greatly from the current one.

National Grid: To report a power outage, call 1-800-322-3223. To report an odor of natural gas, call 1-800-640-1595.

The City's five-year Hazard Mitigation Plan was approved by FEMA on May 10, 2011.

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  

National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP): East Providence and all other Rhode Island cities and towns participate in this FEMA 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.