By Tiffany Williams –
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — With a major winter storm bearing down on Rhode Island, Governor Dan McKee ordered a statewide truck travel ban beginning at noon Sunday, January 25, and urged residents to stay off the roads as conditions deteriorate.
“We’re strongly urging Rhode Islanders to stay off the roads during the storm to allow the plows to do their job,” McKee said. “Our State Emergency Operations Center will be active and monitoring throughout the storm, our plow crews are geared up, and we’re asking Rhode Islanders to stay informed and stay safe.”
The ban applies to tractor-trailers, tankers, special permitted vehicles, RVs, box trucks, vehicles with trailers, and tandems, with exceptions only for emergency responders and vehicles carrying emergency supplies. Buses operated by the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority along established routes are exempt. State officials say the restriction is aimed at reducing crashes and allowing plow crews to clear roadways more efficiently during the height of the storm.
State government operations will also be affected. At the Governor’s direction, the Department of Administration implemented the State’s Adverse Weather Policy from 3 p.m. Sunday, January 25 through 10 a.m. Monday, January 26, with officials noting the policy may be adjusted as forecasts are updated. The Rhode Island Department of Transportation reported approximately 500 state and vendor plows are staged and ready, with 60,000 tons of salt available. Roads have already been pretreated ahead of the storm.
Emergency response and public safety agencies are moving into heightened readiness. The Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency will operate from the State Emergency Operations Center and remain in close coordination with local emergency management departments. Rhode Island State Police have called in extra troopers to monitor highways and assist stranded motorists if necessary. The Office of Energy Resources said it is working closely with Rhode Island Energy, Clear River Electric & Water District, Block Island Utility District, and fuel terminals, with additional restoration and tree crews on standby in anticipation of outages.
State housing officials announced the activation of all four emergency pop-up shelter sites to provide refuge for people experiencing homelessness during the storm, in addition to existing shelters and warming centers. The West Warwick Civic Center at 100 Factory Street will be open 24 hours until 9 a.m. on January 27, with individuals able to go directly to the site. Additional overnight sites will operate January 24 and January 25 from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., with individuals first reporting to Matthewson Street Church at 134 Matthewson Street in Providence before placement at Community Church of Providence on Wayland Avenue or Open Table of Christ on Broad Street.
Health officials are also warning residents to take the storm seriously. The Rhode Island Department of Health urged people to check on older family members and neighbors, limit time outdoors during extreme cold, shovel snow carefully to avoid overexertion, and take steps to prevent slips and falls. State officials continue to emphasize that avoiding unnecessary travel remains one of the most effective ways for residents to protect themselves and first responders as the storm moves through the region.