Police Closing Off Hazard Road to Traffic This Evening

As of 2 p.m. today, the Newport Emergency Management Team announced that the Newport Police will be closing the gates on both ends of Hazard Road from 4 p.m. until 8 a.m. Saturday, due to impending flooding.
 
Easton's Beach is technically closed to the public today, although surfers have populated the water to catch the action of Earl's waves. Police at the beach say they aren't arresting anyone for surfing, but that they are trying to make sure people stay close to the shore and don't get swept away.
 
The EMA team says the public should be extremely cautious of the dangerous surf and wave conditions, which will be present at the shorelines for the entire weekend. The large waves can easily surprise an onlooker who is too close, and will sweep them out into the surf. Dangerous rip tides will exist at all of the beaches and waterways for the next few days. Many areas will be deemed off limits due to these dangerous conditions.  Areas of extreme danger will be the Ocean Drive and the Cliff Walk.
 
Officials would like to caution the public not to become complacent. Even though Hurricane Earl is diminishing in strength and size, this is still a large and dangerous storm. All residents are urged to stay tuned to local television and radio stations over the next 24 hours for any changes in the track of the hurricane, which would bring it closer to Rhode Island.
 
The city is asking all residents to stay inside and off the city streets during the storm, and to only venture outside after the storm, when conditions are safe.