Hurricane Guide: Mandatory Evacuation, Parking, Closures and More

Although some Middletown residents might be nervous and feel uncertain about Hurricane Sandy, Town Administrator Shawn Brown said the town is well prepared.

"I think things are going well," he said on Saturday night. "Resources are setup and people are prepared." Brown said the next challenge will be how to clean up after the storm. 

Below are the updates from various town departments regarding a mandatory evacuation order, shelter, closures, parking and traffic restrictions:

Parking and Traffic

• The Town of Middletown will begin a parking ban at midnight on Monday and will last until further notice
• On Monday at 10:00 am the police department and the public works department will begin blocking the lower Aquidneck Avenue area with cement barricades.  The barricades will be located at Wave Avenue and Aquidneck Avenue (north Side), Purgatory Road/Aquidneck Avenue, (all traffic diverted up Purgatory Road, and Memorial Boulevard at the town line so no traffic will get caught on Memorial when it floods.

Evacuations and Shelter

• Gaudet Middle School, located at 1113 Aquidneck Ave. is open as a regional shelter for all Aquidneck Island residents. No pets are allowed.
• A mandatory evacuation of those homes in the Category 1 and 2 Hurricane Flood Zone area to evacuate homes and businesses by 10:00 a.m. on Monday Morning. This area includes the businesses and residences in the lower Aquidneck Area as well as parts of Purgatory Road. Middletown Police Officers will go door to door and notify residents of the evacuation order as well as through the Code Red Message system. 

Closings

• Middletown schools, town hall offices, library and senior center will be closed on Monday.
• Other school closing reported: the MET East Bay, St. George's, URI, All Saints Academy
• No PAYT trash pickup on Monday or Tuesday
• There are no plans to close the Newport Bridge unless wind speeds reach a certain speed. Large profile trucks would be banned after sustained winds of 59 mph and all traffic is banned at 69 mph wind speeds.

Do you have a question about Hurricane Sandy as it relates to Middletown?  Ask it in the comments and Patch will get you an answer.

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