Police Chief: Town Prepared for Approaching Storm

The Coventry Emergency Management Agency (EMA) in cooperation with all emergency response agencies and human services agencies of Coventry, have been working on preparations for Hurricane Irene since early this week.

The Emergency Management Director, Chief Bryan Volpe of the Coventry Police Department, wants all residents and business in the Town of Coventry to be assured that “the Coventry Emergency Response plans are being implemented so that the town is adequately equipped to handle the impending hurricane.”

The Coventry EMA is monitoring the storm and working with the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency to gather information needed to make storm-related decisions.

Coventry EMA is reviewing the possibility, but has not made any final decisions regarding mobile home park evacuations and opening of a shelter for town residents. The Coventry EMA is making plans for possible food and water distribution after the storm; sandbags for residents who may need them to prevent flooding; cleanup after the storm; opening of roads that may become blocked by debris; plans for possible school closure; and restoration of utilities should they be lost during the storm.

Emergency response by fire, police, department of public works and human services support is all prepared and ready to respond to the community’s needs, Volpe said. Decisions regarding evacuations and shelters will be made sometime on Friday, and appropriate information regarding them will be released to the public.

For more information regarding the planning by Coventry EMA you may go to the Coventry website — www.town.coventry.ri.us/.

Additional information may be obtained from the Rhode Island EMA at www.riema.ri.gov/whatsnew/.