Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency

10/23/2026

Newport Pell Bridge Travel Advisory: Traffic will be one-lane heading:
· Westbound (towards Jamestown) 10/26 at 7AM until 10/27 at 3AM
· Eastbound (towards Newport) 10/26 at 9AM until 10/27 at 3AM
Please allow for additional travel time.

10/22/2026

A suspicious link or unexpected message can be the start of a cyber threat. Before you click, take a moment.

🔗 Don’t click links or download attachments from unknown sources.

📧 Be cautious of unexpected emails or messages asking for personal or financial information.

🔐 Use strong, unique passwords and enable multifactor authentication whenever possible.

📱 Keep your devices, apps, and software updated.

Cyber preparedness is emergency preparedness. Protect your information, devices, and accounts before a problem happens.

10/22/2026

Coming soon we have scheduled demolition work for the Potter Street Bridge, which carries local traffic in East Providence over I-195, near the Taunton Avenue exit. To complete the demolition as quickly and as safely as possible, we need to temporarily close I-195 in both directions. Much of the closure will be during the overnight hours when traffic volumes are low, but work will extend into Saturday morning. We strongly recommend that people plan alternate routes and avoid traveling on I-195 during the closure times.

Here’s the schedule:

Friday, November 6: Lane closures begin at 9 p.m.; the full highway closure begins at 10 p.m.
Saturday, November 7: Lanes will begin opening by 10 a.m. and all lanes open by noontime.

For local traffic on I-195, we will have a detour route using Warren Avenue. Dedicated routes will be provided for emergency vehicle access. RIDOT has been in close coordination with local and regional public safety, including EMS services.

There also will be local road and ramp closures in East Providence during the closure. We expect traffic to be heaviest Saturday morning. Again, make plans to defer travel as much as possible during the closure times.

RIDOT examined alternatives to the full closure, however, the design of the Potter Street Bridge is such that phased demolition would require the installation of bracing supports and various lane closures which would impact traffic over a much longer period of time than this single closure event.

The Potter Street Bridge will be rebuilt to accommodate a wider highway corridor with additional travel lanes on I-195 West. This traffic improvement was included in the Washington Bridge Rebuild Project to help alleviate longstanding congestion on I-195 West, which has historically caused traffic to back up toward the Massachusetts state line.

You can find detailed information and detour maps on our website at www.ridot.net/195Closure.

10/19/2026

This month, our RIEMA External Affairs and Preparedness Team partnered with the Pawtucket and Scituate Senior Centers to host Preparedness BINGO! 🎉

Between rounds of BINGO, representatives from our partner agencies, including the Rhode Island Department of Health, United Way of Rhode Island, R.I. Office of Healthy Aging, American Red Cross Rhode Island, FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority, shared valuable information with seniors about emergency preparedness, available resources, and how to plan for their individual needs during an emergency.

We’re grateful to our partners and participating senior centers for helping us make preparedness engaging, accessible, and fun for our communities!

10/19/2026

10/16/2026

Thunderstorms capable of producing damaging winds and perhaps a tornado or two are expected across parts of the Mid-Atlantic into southern New England, mainly this afternoon and early evening.

Find the latest outlooks at spc.noaa.gov and the latest watches and warnings at weather.gov.

10/16/2026

Isolated severe thunderstorms are possible across much of southern New England this afternoon and evening. Showers have already started moving into the region this morning and will be followed by a bit of a lull in precipitation during the late morning and early afternoon. However, a strong cold front moving across the region could bring a line of strong to severe thunderstorms later in the day, with the greatest concern between 5 PM and 10 PM.

The greatest risk for severe weather is across southwestern portions of southern New England, where a Slight Risk (Level 2 out of 5) is in place. Much of the remainder of the region is under a Marginal Risk (Level 1 out of 5), while areas north of Lowell and Gloucester currently have the lowest threat for severe weather.

Damaging wind gusts and frequent lightning are the primary concerns, with locally heavy rainfall also possible. While isolated severe thunderstorms could occur across much of southern New England, not every community will experience severe weather. Those with outdoor plans this evening should remain weather aware and stay tuned for forecast updates.

10/14/2026

Would you know if an emergency was happening in your community? Make sure you can receive important emergency information before you need it.

RIEMA encourages Rhode Islanders to sign up for local emergency notifications in their city and make sure emergency alerts are enabled on their mobile devices.

Emergency alerts can provide critical information about severe weather, hazards, evacuations, and other emergencies. Sign up at

10/13/2026

Chilly days are here, which means heaters are coming back on. During Fire Prevention Week, take a moment to make sure you’re heating your home safely. A few simple precautions can help prevent a home fire and keep everyone safe.

🚫 Never leave space heaters unattended.
🚨 Keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet away from heating equipment.
🔌 Plug space heaters directly into a wall outlet, not an extension cord or power strip.
🚫 Turn heaters off when you leave the room or go to bed.
🚨 Make sure your smoke alarms are working.

Stay warm and safe!