The Towns of Portsmouth and Middletown and the City of Newport are developing the first-ever multi-jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan for Aquidneck Island.
The regional effort, funded by a Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities Grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), is being conducted by Providence-based consultant Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. (VHB) in conjunction with a Regional Hazard Mitigation Committee consisting of municipal staff, fire and police chiefs, Naval Station Newport liaisons, and community representatives. This project will build off existing planning efforts and incorporate new ideas from various stakeholders, including the public.
The Regional Hazard Mitigation Committee has organized three community workshops in the coming weeks to identify the hazards of concern, map out vulnerable areas, and brainstorm mitigation ideas. Each municipality will have a workshop focusing on the hosting community and the island as a connected region. Regardless of municipal affiliation, we invite all interested to attend the following meetings and/or respond to an online survey. Participants are welcome to drop in or stay for the whole event. There will be additional opportunities to participate throughout the process.
Portsmouth & Island-Wide Workshop: Thursday, May 30, 2024, 3:00-5:00 pm, Town Council Chambers, Portsmouth Town Hall
Newport & Island-Wide Workshop: Thursday, June 6, 2024, 4:00-6:00 pm, City Council Chambers, Newport City Hall
Middletown & Island-Wide Workshop: Thursday, June 20, 2024, 4:00-6:00 pm, Town Council Chambers, Middletown Town Hall
The Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan (RHMP) will address issues such as flooding, hurricanes, extreme temperature, and sea level rise, developing short- and long-term actions to reduce the effects of such natural hazards. By examining vulnerable areas, critical infrastructure, and current capabilities, the team will establish priorities for each municipality and Aquidneck Island to protect our communities from future disasters better.
All municipalities are required to have a local Hazard Mitigation Plan to qualify for non-emergency funding from FEMA. Adoption of a Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan by Portsmouth, Middletown, and Newport qualifies the municipalities to apply for pre-disaster and post-disaster funding.
For more information on the process or to take the online survey, please visit the Aquidneck Island Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan webpage at https://tinyurl.com/rhmp24
Source: Town of Portsmouth
