President Declares Disaster For Rhode Island

Last week, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that federal aid has been made available to the State of Rhode Island to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area affected by Tropical Storm Irene during the period of August 27-29, 2011.

Federal funding is available to state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by Tropical Storm Irene in Bristol, Kent, Newport, Providence and Washington counties.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.

Gracia B. Szczech has been named as the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area.  Szczech said that damage surveys are continuing in other areas, and additional counties may be designated for assistance after the assessments are fully completed.