In an emergency, please dial 911

Storm Damage Information for Individuals

Who may be eligible: Homeowners, individuals and households (home owners and renters)
What is potentially covered: Damages to home, personal property, home repairs, rental assistance, clothes, washers, dryers - all things that may have been affected with flood waters
What to do:

1. Register online at www.fema.gov or 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585 for hearing or speech impaired
2. FEMA will provide a nine-digit registration number
   NOTE: It is critically important for anyone who may have already called 211 or spoken to FEMA due to the last storm event, still MUST REGISTER with FEMA.

Information needed for call:

1. Social Security Number
2. Telephone Number where you can be reached
3. Address of damaged property
4. Current address of residence
5. Brief description of disaster-related damages and losses
6. Insurance information (homeowners, personal proerty, rental, etc.)

Disaster Recovery Centers (DRC) will be established by FEMA in affected areas.  For information on a DRC contact FEMA.

Storm Damage Information for Businesses

BRIEF GUIDE TO BEGIN FEMA ASSISTANCE PROCESS (Source: FEMA in a Pocket Guide). Program: US Small Business Disaster Assistance Program (low interest loans)

Who is eligible: Business owners
What to do: 

1. Register online at www.fema.gov or 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585 for hearing or speech impaired. 
2. FEMA will provide a nine-digit registration number.
   NOTE: It is critically important for anyone who may have already called 211 or spoken to FEMA due to the last storm event, still MUST REGISTER with FEMA.

Information needed for call:

Storm Damage Informational Meeting for Businesses

Tuesday, April 6, 2010 from 1:00 to 3 p.m. at the Johnston Housing Authority (Aime J. Forand Housing for the Elderly) located at 8 Forand Circle in Johnston, RI, to provide information on Disaster Unemployment Insurance Procedures and options for financial assistance--open to all businesses who have been affected.

Emergency Shelter

After a year of work, the American Red Cross (ARC) formally recognized the Captain Isaac Paine School as the Town's Emergency Shelter / Hurricane Shelter. Providing a formal Emergency Shelter for the Town has been an important goal of the Town for a number of years, and with the Red Cross recognition comes the possibility of being reimbursed by the ARC for any expenses incurred by the Town during an actual emergency. Installation of an emergency generator at the school occurred in November of 2008 as a second major step in the process of making this shelter a fully functioning reality.

Emergency Shelter Team
The Town of Foster's new Emergency Shelter Team is now up and running, ready to help town residents in case of an emergency or natural disaster, such as a hurricane, ice storm, or pandemic flu. During the Spring of 2009, the American Red Cross provided training to team members at no cost. This training included CPR for adults, children, and infants, Standard First Aid, Psychological First Aid, Mass Care, and Shelter Operations. In fact, on Saturday, June 6, 2009, our local Team held an emergency simulation drill at the Paine School where the Team worked with representatives from the American Red Cross to simulate an actual emergency. Team members also participated in the H1N1 Vaccination Clinic held at Paine School this past November and expect to run training and drills a couple of times each year to remain active and current in the required areas.

Sandbags
A limited number of sandbags are available to residents during an emergency. Empty bags may be picked up at the Foster Police Department, residents may fill bags with sand at the Department of Public Works yard.

Helpful Links

Get Hurricane Ready Rhode Island!

National Hurricane Center - NOAA

Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency (RIEMA)

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

American Red Cross/Rhode Island Chapter