Town of Coventry Declares State of Emergency

The Town of Coventry Emergency Management Agency (EMA) in cooperation with all Emergency Response Agencies and Human Services Agencies of the Town of Coventry, continue to prepare for Hurricane Sandy. 

At 12:00 p.m. on Sunday, Town Council President, Gary Cote, signed a Declaration of Emergency for the Town of Coventry. The Coventry Emergency Operations Center is imposing a voluntary evacuation of all Campgrounds and Mobile Home Parks in the Town of Coventry that we expect to complete by 6:00 p.m. today, Sunday, October 28th. This evacuation is in preparation for the strong wind speeds expected from Hurricane Sandy which is expected to hit the area on early Monday morning. 

Campers and residential mobile homes are susceptible to heavy damage from storms with moderate wind speeds and high gusting wind speeds. The conditions expected from this hurricane will exceed conditions that have previously been known to cause damage to mobile home parks and campgrounds. 

To accommodate anyone that may need shelter, the Coventry EOC will be opening a shelter at the Coventry High School at 4:00 p.m. today, October 28th. The Coventry High School is located at 40 Reservoir Rd. The preferred response would be to stay with family or friends, however, anyone seeking shelter is encouraged to make use of the High School facility. 

The shelter will NOT be able to accommodate family pets, please make alternative arrangements. As a last resort, the Coventry Animal Shelter will be able to accommodate a small number of pets, which will be subject to a first come, first serve basis due to space limitations. Coventry Animal Control can be reached at 822-9106.

FOR EVACUATION AND SHELTER INFORMATION PLEASE CALL OUR 24-HOUR INFO LINE AT 822-6215.

Hurricane Sandy is expected to pass over Rhode Island sometime Monday morning with effects through Tuesday evening. Weather forecasts are predicting severe weather situations that may prevent a response from emergency services. If this occurs, emergency services may not be able to respond to calls for service until the storm intensity decreases and conditions improve. Please take this into consideration as services will be burdened during and after this event. We thank you for your anticipated cooperation.

POINTS OF INTEREST:

1. SCHOOL IS CANCELLED IN COVENTRY ON MONDAY AND TUESDAY
2. THERE WILL BE NO GARBAGE PICK-UP IN COVENTRY ON MONDAY AND TUESDAY. IF YOU HAVE CANS OUT PLEASE SECURE THEM.
3. A PARKING BAN WILL BE IN EFFECT BEGINNING AT 12:00 MIDNIGHT ON SUNDAY UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
4. UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTIFIED, ALL TOWN OF COVENTRY EMPLOYEES ARE EXPECTED TO REPORT TO WORK ON MONDAY.
5. ALL TOWN MEETINGS SCHEDULED FOR MONDAY ARE CANCELLED. 

For more information regarding the planning by Coventry EMA you may go to the Town of Coventry website http://www.town.coventry.ri.us/ and the Coventry Police Website http://coventrypd.org/. 

Additional information may be obtained from the Rhode Island EMA at their website http://www.riema.ri.gov/.