Flooding Closes Several E.P. Roads; Evacuation Urged in Riverside Areas

Anyone who lives in the Bullock’s Cove and Sabin Point areas of Riverside is being asked to evacuate the area, and several roads have been reported closed by flooding Monday evening.

A high tide of at least 7 feet above normal has flooded and closed Sabin Point Park.

Veterans Parkway is flooded at Watchemoket Cove and is closed from Lyon Ave to South Broadway. RIDOT crews and an East Providence patrol office shut down the road with cones; it will not reopen until the bridge over the cove is evaluated for safety.

Waterfront Drive is closed south of Mauran Avenue; this includes Bold Point Park.

There is still a flooding risk in the Bullock’s Cove area, including Riverside Drive, the immediate area of the Crescent View Avenue bridge, Richmond Point, the Vintner Avenue playground area, the southern end of Main Street, Cozzens Avenue, and the eastern end of Cove Street and vicinity, said Wayne Barnes, deputy Emergency Management Agency director for East Providence.

“We probably will not announce a mandatory evacuation,” said Barnes. “But we will say that if they don’t evacuate, they’ll be on their own.”

That is not to say that the city will not respond to emergencies. But if the area is flooded, it would make it very difficult to respond without jeopardizing the safety of everyone involved.

National Grid is reporting that 31 customers were without power at 9:15 pm.

The city will operate a short-term local shelter at the East Providence Senior Center beginning at 3 pm, said Barnes. Evacuees should consider moving to the shelter.

A regional shelter also is being operted by the Red Cross at the Primrose Hill School in Barrington, located at 60 Middle Highway. This is the evacuation option of first choice, said Barnes.

East Providence had considered opening a shelter at the high school if the estimated demand warranted using that facility.

The city’s Emergency Operations Center began operating early Monday morning to coordinate activities to ensure the safety of citizens during the storm, said Barnes.

Wind speeds of 30-50 mph with gusts to as high as 70 mph are expected during the height of the storm on Monday afternoon and evening, said Barnes. Damage to trees and power lines is expected as are widespread power outages, which could in some cases last for several days to a week.

Moderate to major coastal flooding is forecast for upper Narragansett Bay. The Monday evening high tide at 8:36 pm will be the highest, with that tide expected to run 6 feet higher the normal high tide.

The Tuesday morning high tide at around 9 am will be up to 3 feet higher than normal, said Barnes. It is expected that some homes that are low to tidewater will be flooded, particularly during the evening high tide, and that some evacuations may be necessary.

There is also concern for some erosion of the bluff along the west shoreline of Riverside. This is forecast to be the worst episode of coastal flooding for East Providence since at least Hurricane Bob in 1991.

Rain will be heavy at times with some street flooding, but notable flooding of rivers and streams is not expected at this time.

Sand bags and sand remain available at the Central Garage at 60 Commercial Way. This is a self-service facility.

Residents are asked to use 911 as the primary number for all emergencies.

Trash collection will be delayed by one day for the rest of the week beginning on Tuesday, Oct. 30. Regular Friday collection will be Saturday.  

For further informationon on trash collection, contact the Public Works/Recycling Office at 435-7701or 435-7710 or the city’s Public Works Web page for updated information,  www.eastprovidenceri.net/content/666/738/754/default.aspx

Information for the City is very frequently updated on the City’s website, www.eastprovidenceri.net.