Town Of South Kingstown: IMPORTANT WINTER STORM INFORMATION ***Updated 1/30/2022

Press release from the Town of South Kingstown:

January 28, 2022

The Town of South Kingstown is closely monitoring and preparing for the imminent winter storm this evening, expected to continue throughout the day Saturday.

The National Weather Service has announced a BLIZZARD WARNING is IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO MIDNIGHT SATURDAY NIGHT.

• Heavy snow is expected with accumulations of 15 to 24 inches with Winds gusting as high as 60 mph.
• Residents should finalize preparations for this storm today.
• A Town-wide parking ban goes into effect as of 7pm tonight until further notice.
• Residents are advised to shelter in place on Saturday, January 29th and to stay off the roads during the storm and after in order for snowplowing crews to work as efficiently and safely as possible.
• Remember to check on elderly family members and neighbors.
• For emergencies call 9-1-1.

POWER OUTAGES

Report power outages directly to National Grid, please do not call police dispatch. To report a power outage visit nationalgridus.com/OutageCentral or call 1-800-465-1212. Do not rely on your neighbors to report power outages to National Grid as the power outage may be specific to your home’s electrical service.

Verizon has provided the following information for their customers: report any service-related issue, receive alerts and find helpful service-related FAQs at 1-800-VERIZON (1-800-837-4966) or online at www.verizon.com/outage. Small business customers can visit www.verizon.com/business; medium business and enterprise customers should contact their regular customer service centers or account teams, as needed. Enterprise customers can also access https://enterprisecenter.verizon.com.

SATURDAY CLOSURES

• Rose Hill Transfer Station. Will reopen for normal business on Monday, January 31st.
• Recreation Center and Neighborhood Guild. The recreation basketball program for Saturday is cancelled and will be made up on February 19th.
• All library branches (Peace Dale, Kingston Free and Robert Beverly Hale).
• State run Covid-19 Vaccination and Testing site at the South Road school facility.

TIPS FOR STORM PREPARATION

• Check your emergency kit and replenish any items missing or in short supply, especially medications and medical supplies. Keep it nearby.

• Prepare for possible power outages.
• Be sure you have ample heating fuel. If you have alternative heating sources, such as fireplaces, wood- or coal-burning stoves, or space heaters, be sure they are clean and in working order.
• Review generator safety:Click here for generator safety. Never run a generator in an enclosed space.

SIDEWALK SNOW REMOVAL

• Owners of property abutting sidewalks are reminded that they are responsible for sidewalk snow removal within 12 hours after storm cessation in accordance with Sec. 16-2 of the Town Code.

**** Jan 28 10:00pm updates:

REGIONAL SHELTER TO OPEN SATURDAY, JAN 29th at 7:00PM. The American Red Cross and Regional Emergency Management will activate the regional emergency shelter located at South Kingstown High School, 215 Columbia Street, Wakefield, RI, on Saturday, January 29th starting at 7 PM. Residents and visitors are encouraged to utilize the shelter if they are in need. This shelter is open to the public and generally serves the towns of Narragansett, North Kingstown and South Kingstown. COVID-19 protocols including health screenings will be in place.

RI GOVERNOR DECLARES STATE OF EMERGENCY. Governor Daniel J. McKee issued Executive Order 22-10 on January 28, 2022 declaring a state of Emergency in Rhode Island. Among other items, the executive order:

• Bans tractor trailers, except those carrying emergency supplies, from traveling on all roads in the state from 6:00 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. on Saturday January 29, 2022.
• Restricts motor vehicle travel on all roads state wide from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 29, 2022. Some exemptions apply for emergency and public service workers.
• Directs the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency to initiate the state emergency operations center.
• Provides additional authority to various state and local authorities to appropriately respond to storm related events and protect the health and safety of the public.

For additional details please refer to the Governors Executive Order at: https://governor.ri.gov/executive-orders/executive-order-22-10

**** Jan 29 update:

THE TRAVEL BAN HAS BEEN EXTENDED UNTIL MIDNIGHT per the Governor's Executive Order 22-11.

**** Jan 30 update:

• CLEANUP CONTINUES SUNDAY. Snow removal crews are focused on on clearing and widening roadways first and then will remove snow on sidewalks. This will take some time so please be patient. We will get to your street.
• REMINDER TO OWNERS OF PROPERTY ABUTTING A SIDEWALK – Please remove snow on the sidewalk abutting your property. This is required per Sec. 16-2 of the Town Code. More importantly, it’s the right thing to do to keep our residents and neighbors safe.
• EMERGENCY SHELTER CLOSED as of 10AM.

Storm information updates will be posted here.

This press release was produced by the Town of South Kingstown. The views expressed here are the author’s own.