Rhode Island Hurricane Preparedness: Evacuation Zones, Supplies, and Flood Risk

Rhode Island has been hit harder by hurricanes than most people realize. The 1938 Hurricane pushed a storm surge that devastated downtown Providence; Carol did it again in 1954; the Fox Point Hurricane Barrier exists because of it. The state''s south-facing coastline funnels surge straight into Narragansett Bay. Peak season runs mid-August through October.

This guide is informational. In an active emergency, follow instructions from RIEMA, your local emergency management office, and the National Weather Service — they supersede anything written here.

Step 1: Know Your Evacuation Zone

Rhode Island uses lettered hurricane evacuation zones (A through E) based on surge modeling, not town lines. Zone A floods in the weakest storms; higher letters evacuate as storm strength increases. RIEMA (Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency) publishes the zone maps at riema.ri.gov — look up your address now, not when a storm is named.

Officials announce evacuations by zone letter. If you don''t know your letter, you can''t act on the instruction.

Step 2: Sign Up for Alerts

• CodeRED — Rhode Island''s emergency notification system; register your address and cell number
• NOAA Weather Radio — works when cell networks fail
• Local emergency management — many towns run their own alert lists
• Wireless Emergency Alerts — on by default on most phones; don''t disable them

Step 3: Build the Kit (3–5 Days)

• Water: one gallon per person per day
• Food: non-perishable, no-cook, plus a manual can opener
• Medications: a full refill cycle ahead — pharmacies close and power fails. Ask your provider about emergency refills. See our pharmacy guide
• Power: flashlights, batteries, power banks; generators go outside only, never in a garage
• Documents: insurance policies, deed/lease, IDs — photographed and stored in the cloud
• Cash: ATMs and card readers fail with power and network

• Pets: food, carrier, vaccination records — many shelters require them
• Fuel: keep the tank above half when a storm is forecast

Step 4: Understand Your Flood Risk and Insurance

This is the expensive lesson. Standard homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage. Flood coverage comes through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or private flood insurers — and new NFIP policies typically have a 30-day waiting period. Buying a policy when a hurricane is three days out does nothing.

Coastal RI communities — Warwick, Barrington, Bristol, Narragansett, South Kingstown, Westerly, Newport, and low-lying Providence — have significant mapped flood zones. Check FEMA''s Flood Map Service Center for your property, and read our homeowners insurance and renters insurance guides. Renters: your landlord''s policy covers the building, never your belongings.

Step 5: Before the Storm Arrives

• Bring in or secure outdoor furniture, grills, trash cans — they become projectiles
• Trim dead limbs near the house early in the season
• Charge everything; fill bathtubs for flushing water if you''re on a well
• Photograph your home and belongings for claims
• Know your route — coastal roads flood before the storm''s peak; leaving late is the danger

During and After

• Never drive through flooded roads. Most storm deaths are vehicles in water.
• Treat downed lines as live and report them to Rhode Island Energy.
• Generator carbon monoxide kills after storms — outside, away from windows, always.
• Wait for the official all-clear before returning to an evacuated zone; the back half of a storm follows the eye.
• Document damage before cleanup for insurance.

Power Outage Planning

Extended outages are the most likely scenario for inland Rhode Islanders. Know whether anyone in your household depends on powered medical equipment and register with your utility''s medical-necessity program in advance. Cooling and warming centers open through municipal emergency management — see our cooling centers guide for how RI opens public facilities in emergencies, and dial 2-1-1 for services.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources: RIEMA (riema.ri.gov), FEMA, National Weather Service. Verify current guidance during any active storm.