Flooding in Rhode Island is the Worst in Over 100 Years

Providence R.I. - The flooding in Rhode Island is considered to be the worst in over 100 years. By March 31, 2010, many towns in Rhode Island were completely flooded. According to CNN the worst is yet to come. President Barack Obama has declared a state of emergency for Rhode Island. With Power outages and knocked out sewage plants, health concerns are rising.

The rain has slowed a bit in RI, but forecasters are concerned about other areas in the North East like Connecticut New Jersey and New York.

Some residents of Road Island are ready to throw in the towel. Tuesday was the straw that broke the back, after dealing with the flooding storms from two weeks ago. Some residents are just not sticking around. Rhode Island got the worst of Tuesday's downpour, dumping between 7-8 inches of rain in downtown RI alone. Record rainfall of 16.32 inches was reported in Providence RI.

The Pawtuxet River reached over 20 feet by Wednesday, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Hydro meteorological Service. Flood stage is at 8 feet for the Pawtuxet River. The record was 14.5 feet in 1982, This breaking all previous records.

Numerous streets are closed, Amtrak Trains suspended and bridges have been washed out. I-95 was closed do to flooding on Tuesday and won't be reopened for days. The flooding is taking its toll on business' and local residents.
Most schools and government offices have been closed or suspended to keep people off the roads mainly for safety concerns.

The 1-95 closures could pose a problem for Holiday travel this weekend.
Despite the flooding in and around the T.F. Green International Airport in Warrick RI, It is still open and operating.

Two electric power substations were flooded according to David Graves a spokesman for the National Grid. Thousands of people are now without power, and may be for days. Wednesday temperatures are expected to be in the 30's tonight, thankfully temperatures are expected to warm up by Friday.

From the FEMA website:
According to FEMA the president signed an Emergency Declaration, FEMA-3311-EM, for the State of Rhode Island starting on March 12, 2010 and continuing. Flood Warnings and Watches have been issued for approximately 80% of the rivers and streams in southern New England. March 2010 is now the wettest March on record for parts of Northeast Region.

FEMA Region I (Northeast Flooding)
Region I is activated at Level II (Partial Activation) with ESFs 1, 3, 8, 9, Region I ESF-6, the American Red Cross and the Defense Coordination Element liaison activated. Region I liaisons are deployed to CT, MA & NH. The Region I IMAT is providing planning/staffing in support of the RI Emergency Operations Center. National IMAT-East and the Region IV IMAT will be deployed to Region I RRCC in Boston, MA today.

Sources:

1) www.wunderground.com/US/RI/Providence.html
2) CNN International
3) edition.cnn.com
4) www.fema.gov/