Access To Public Records | Emergency Management Agency

Assistance for Severe Weather and Flooding that occurred in December 2023 and January 2024

Residents of Kent, Providence, and Washington counties, who were affected by severe storms and flooding that occurred between December 17-19, 2023, and between January 9-13, 2024, can apply for federal assistance.

Homeowners and renters who received property loss or damages by either disaster in those counties have until May 20, 2024, to apply.

When applying for assistance, you must describe what damage(s) happened on which date to ensure you’re applying under the correct disaster.

FEMA Assistance - There are several ways for homeowners and renters to apply.

1. Visit a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) at:

a. Cumberland Public Library, 1464 Diamond Hill Road, Cumberland, RI 02864
(Open: 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturdays)

b. William Winsor Elementary School, 562 Putman Pike, Greenville, RI 02828
(Open: 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday; 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturdays.)

c. Coventry Town Hall Annex, 1675 Flat River Road, Coventry, RI 02879
(Open: 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday; 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturdays.)

d. Knightsville Manor (Community Room), 85 Briggs Street, Cranston, RI 02920
(Open: 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturdays.)

2. Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. Help is available in most languages.

3. Go online to DisasterAssistance.gov (also in Spanish).

4. Download the FEMA mobile app (also in Spanish) at Google Play or the Apple App Store.

To view an accessible video on how to apply visit Three Ways to Register for FEMA Disaster Assistance - YouTube

SBA Assistance - Ways to apply for low-interest disaster loans available to businesses and residents in Rhode Island

1. Visit the Business Recovery Center (BRC) at:

North Providence Public Safety Complex
1835 Mineral Spring Avenue
North Providence, RI 02904

- Hours of operation: 9 a.m.– 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays. Closed Sundays.

2. Apply online and receive additional disaster assistance information at SBA.gov/disaster.

3. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955

4. Email: disastercustomerservice@sba.gov

To view an accessible video on how to apply for SBA visit Reasons to apply for a SBA Loan.

Submit an APRA Request

There are several ways to submit an APRA request:

In person at RIEMA, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday (holidays excluded).

Complete and return RIEMA's Public Records Request Form.

Call the Public Records Officer.

If you wish to make an anonymous APRA request and choose not to provide any identifying or contact information, contact the Public Records Officer for a case number so that we may respond to your request.

APRA allows ten (10) business days for response to a public records request. In some instances, response time can be extended by twenty (20) days due to the voluminous nature of the request, the number of pending requests, or the difficulty in searching for, retrieving, and/or copying the requested records. All responses from RIEMA will be in writing.

Any denial of the right to inspect or copy records, in whole or in part, will be made to you in writing and will include the reason(s) for the denial and procedures for appealing the denial.

The cost to copy documents is fifteen cents ($0.15) per page.

The cost for search and/or retrieval of documents is fifteen ($15) per hour. There is no charge for the first hour of search and/or retrieval of documents.

RIEMA's Public Records Officer is Anita Flax. Her contact information is: