Providence, RI - May 11, 2010
EMAC Meeting Highlights Successes, Identifies Challenges
In her role as Chair, Lt. Governor Roberts brought together state and local officials and agency heads to address “Lessons Learned—Flooding of 2010” in a meeting today from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 pm at the RI DOT Division of Highway and Bridge Maintenance facility, 360 Lincoln Ave., Warwick. Three panels included state agencies, mayors and town managers, private sector and key stakeholders.
In her many visits to affected areas around the state, she was impressed by the resilience of those who were forced to leave their homes and found themselves at recovery shelters throughout Rhode Island. She also noted the harmony in which numerous agencies worked in a coordinated effort at the Joint FEMA/State Disaster Recovery Center, planning each step in the recovery efforts. Major General Robert T. Bray, Adjutant General of Rhode Island and Director J. David Smith, RIEMA Executive Director gave opening remarks, inviting panelists to share their experiences and offer constructive feedback for present and future recovery efforts.
Lt. Governor Roberts led the first panel on the municipal perspective with Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian, Richmond Town Council President B. Joseph Reddish III, West Warwick Town Manager James Thomas and Coventry Town Manager Thomas Hoover.
Director J. David Smith, RIEMA Executive Director, led the second panel from the statewide perspective with representatives from the Departments of Health, Environmental Management, and Transportation, as well as the RI State Police and the RI Association of Emergency Managers.
The third panel, also moderated by the Lt. Governor, featured representatives from the RI Chapter of the Red Cross, the RI Broadcasters Association, the Providence Chamber of Commerce, the Small Business Development Center and the RI Community Action Association.
In this rare opportunity, state and local entities across a broad spectrum of interests came together to share their experiences and propose solutions to the still-pressing issues of flood mitigation, the rebuilding of city and town infrastructure damaged in the flood, how to ensure a continuity of operations as recovery ensues, improving crisis communications, and how better to coordinate emergency planning efforts between state and community agencies going forward.
“Although the long-term recovery efforts are far from over, a key goal of the council is to protect the safety of Rhode Island’s citizens by improving the state’s ability to prepare, respond and recover from natural and man-made disasters in a coordinated way. This meeting has served to inform our efforts going forward as we continue to find ways to improve upon a collaborative response in the future,” said Lt. Governor Roberts.
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AGENDA
Rhode Island Emergency Management Advisory Council
The 2010 Flood: Lessons Learned
Tuesday, May 11, 2010 RI Department of Transportation Division of Highway & Bridge Maintenance 360 Lincoln Avenue Warwick RI, 02888
I. Brief Business Approval/ Attendance-Lt. Governor Elizabeth Roberts
II. After the Flood Lessons Learned
9:00 – 9:15 a.m. Welcoming Remarks Lieutenant Governor Elizabeth H. Roberts, RI EMAC Chair Major General Robert T. Bray, Adjutant General of Rhode Island J. David Smith, Executive Director, RI Emergency Management Agency
9:15 – 10:00 a.m. Session 1: Municipal Perspective
10:00 – 10:50 a.m. Session 2: Statewide Perspective
11:00 – 11:50 a.m. Session 3: Private Sector Response
III. New Business / Members Comments and/or Suggestions