Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee provided a crucial update on the state’s response to the ongoing blizzard during a press conference on Monday morning. Emphasizing the importance of public safety, McKee urged residents to avoid traveling unless absolutely necessary, citing issues such as accidents and disabled vehicles that are hindering emergency response efforts.
“That cannot continue. We need to stay off the roads. Let’s respect everyone’s safety out there,” McKee stated. “The majority of the people in the state of Rhode Island are doing exactly what we are asking them to do. They are doing the right thing.”
Despite challenging conditions, the plow crews are working tirelessly to clear the roadways as visibility allows. However, the impact of the storm has resulted in significant power outages, with approximately 50,000 Rhode Island Energy customers experiencing outages by around 10 a.m. Senior staff from Rhode Island Energy confirmed that restoration efforts are hampered by extreme wind conditions, limiting their ability to repair downed power lines.
“Currently we are only able to deal with 911 and public safety issues because of extreme winds,” noted Greg Cornett, the president of Rhode Island Energy. “This will be a multi-day outage for some folks. We are expecting probably about a 72-hour outage from the peak for some of our customers.”
As the storm continues to wreak havoc, additional crews from Pennsylvania are anticipated to arrive on Tuesday morning, contingent on road conditions. Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency Director Marc Pappas highlighted the difficulties faced by road crews, noting a paralysis on several roads due to the heavy snowfall.
“There are cities and towns that have plows getting stuck,” Pappas said, calling for continued cooperation from the public. “We have to know that this was predicted.”
The Rhode Island Department of Transportation is deploying around 500 plow trucks working around the clock to address the storm’s aftermath, which is expected to be extensive. “This is not a typical snowstorm, this is a blizzard,” asserted interim Director Robert Rocchio. He also warned that traffic signals and signage have been severely impacted, making cleanup a daunting task.
Furthermore, the National Guard has been activated and stands ready to assist in emergency situations. Governor McKee declared a state of emergency ahead of the storm and confirmed that both the state of emergency and the travel ban will remain in effect until safety can be assured.
As the storm continues to unload up to 30 inches of snow across parts of the state, residents are urged to remain vigilant and stay home to ensure their safety and that of others. The response from state agencies, coupled with community cooperation, aims to navigate through this challenging weather event safely.