Wednesday, March 13, 2013
The road that leads up to the Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge has been closed since Hurricane Sandy. Work has began to open the road.
Officials announced work to open the road that leads up the Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge has begun. The road has been closed since concrete slabs washed up during Hurricane Sandy last October. Although officials previously announced the refuge would be open by the end of January 2013, winter weather delayed the project. There are no official estimates of when the refuge will be open, but a Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) official said the project to clear the road should take approximately a month. “We are grateful to our state and federal partners for helping us restore access to this vital natural resource that was virtually cut off after Hurricane Sandy,” Governor Lincoln D. Chafee said. “When all is said …
Monday, February 4, 2013
Bad weather has delayed the re-opening of the Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge
In December, officials announced they hoped to re-open Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge by the end of January 2013, however recent winter storms has delayed the work. A new date has not been released. The refuge was closed due to unsafe and hazardous conditions caused by Hurricane Sandy. The high surf created unstable banks and washed up concrete slabs on Sachuest Point Road, which left it impassable. “Unfortunately we will be unable to reopen the refuge to the public until the road is repaired because our current 4-wheel drive access roads are not adequate for emergency response if necessary,” said Sarah Lang, Volunteer Coordinator with the refuge. Lang added the contract to repair the road has been awarded by the The Rhode …
Saturday, December 15, 2012
During a tour of the damaged area, officials announced work to open the road should begin shortly.
After Hurricane Sandy shut down Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge over a month ago, there appears to be a light at the end of the tunnel. During a tour of the damaged park on Friday afternoon, officials announced the refuge will be open to the public by the end of January. Robert Smith, Deputy Chief Engineer for the Department of Transportation said the road, which is currently impassable, will be not only cleared and repaved, but that they plan to build a “stone armor” to shield against future storms. Smith said they expect to put out a contract for the work within five days. “This isn’t a quick fix,” added the Refuge Manager Charlie Vandemoer. The concrete slabs that were washed up on Sachuest Point Road will be reused to …
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
A portion of the road will be closed during while repairs are made to the seawall, which was damaged in Hurricane Sandy.
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Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Governor Lincoln D. Chafee and the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) have announced that the next repair project for road damage caused by Hurricane Sandy is now underway on Ocean Drive in the City of Newport. As part of the repair project, a portion of the road is anticipated to be closed for approximately three weeks for seawall reconstruction, effective today. “We have committed to the citizens of this State to do all we can to quickly repair our roadway infrastructure damaged by Hurricane Sandy,” said Governor Lincoln D. Chafee. “With RIDOT’s help and that of the State’s skilled contractors, we are able to do that sooner than later – and put Rhode Islanders to work. I remain grateful for the funding made available by…
Monday, November 19, 2012
Residents who incurred damage as a result of Hurricane Sandy can obtain information about disaster assistance programs
On Friday, FEMA opened a Disaster Recovery Center in the community room at the Middletown Police Department. A Disaster Recovery Center is a facility where applicants may go for information about disaster assistance programs related to damage caused by Hurricane Sandy. This center will be open: Monday through Saturday 8 am – 6 pm Sunday 1pm -5 pm Disaster assistance is financial or direct assistance to individuals and families whose property has been damaged or destroyed as a result of a federally-declared disaster, and whose losses are not covered by insurance. Additional forms of assistance offered by the Federal government can be found on their website. http://www.fema.gov/disaster-recovery-centers
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Less than a week after the decision to make a bus run down to New York City with supplies, three buses were packed and ready to roll.
School bus driver Michele Shull had hoped to fill one bus with supplies like blankets, warm clothing, and batteries, to take down to New York City for those most affected by Hurricane Sandy. But enthusiasm and people's keen desire to help quickly overtook that now seemingly modest idea. On Saturday morning, three Ocean State Transit buses packed full with supplies from OST communities, including East Providence, Middletown, South Kingstown, Chariho and Exeter-West Greenwich set out from Rhode Island for Queens, N.Y. It got started just six days earlier, when Shull got it going by talking to EG's bus yard manager, Deb Murphy, who got the other five OST bus yards involved. School families heard about the plan and donated. Churches – …
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Studies predict intense storms as a symptom of climate change. What do you think?
According to the University of Rhode Island Climate Change Collaborative, the world is getting warmer, the oceans are getting warmer and more acidic, storms are getting more intense and sea levels are rising at an accelerated rate. A study funded by the Rhode Island Sea Grant, found that the sea level in Newport has increased eight inches since 1930. By 2100, the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council said to expect three to five feet of sea level rise. More Americans than ever believe the earth's temperature has been getting warmer. Currently, 67 percent say there is evidence of global warming, up four points over last year, according to a Pew Research article published last month. The study reported that 42 percent say the …
Monday, November 5, 2012
Windy conditions could be more problematic due to trees and limbs damaged by Sandy.
As we clean up after Sandy, Rhode Islanders might need to prepare for another storm expected to arrive on Wednesday. According to the National Weather Service, a significant coastal storm is expected to impact Southern New England and the coastal waters on Wednesday. The storm's track and timing are still uncertain. Potential impacts from this coastal storm could include:
Photos of beach cleanups hosted by Clean Ocean Access
A week after Hurricane Sandy landed on Middletown's shores, Middletown residents showed up for beach cleanups organized by Clean Ocean Access on Saturday. Do you have photos of the beach areas this week? Upload them to this article by clicking on the button below the photos.
Sunday, November 4, 2012
The most popular articles of the past week
In Sandy's Aftermath, Rockaway Beach Native Finds Hometown Spirit in Middletown When a Middletown resident heard his neighbor’s hometown of Rockaway Beach was devastated from the storm, he loaded his truck with supplies and made the 200 mile journey to the region. Alleged Drunk Driver, Runs Over Himself “This is one of the funniest articles I've read in a very long time. It is being forwarded all over the globe,” wrote Elizabeth from New Zealand. One Year Later, Gary Mathias is Honored at the Place of His Death A year after the Brick Alley Chef was swept to sea, family and friends gathered to honor his life. PHOTOS: Hurricane Sandy and Its Aftermath A black and white photo journal of Hurricane Sandy in Middletown Shaws Cuts Jobs, …
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