The answer is yes, according to Robert Warren, the new executive director of the state Emergency Management Agency. But there is much work to be done.

04:14 PM EDT on Wednesday, September 21, 2005

BY AMANDA MILKOVITS
Journal Staff Writer

CRANSTON -- When -- not if -- the Big One hits, most Rhode Islanders will be in the hurricane's path.

And, with the hurricane season in full swing, the statewide plans for emergency evacuations are still in the works.

During a crowded meeting of the Rhode Island Emergency Management Advisory Council yesterday, a review of the state's preparedness showed progress toward a coordinated evacuation system -- as well as flaws and oversights.

There are about 685,000 people -- two-thirds of Rhode Island's population -- living in coastal communities. The summer season brings another 208,500 people living along Rhode Island's coast.

Rhode Island has the same risks as the coastal areas of Mississippi, where storm surges from Hurricane Katrina have swept away entire areas. A massive storm would leave about 80,000 to 120,000 people vulnerable, according to Pam Pogue, the state program manager for the national flood-insurance program at the state Emergency Management Agency.

And then the questions: Will people evacuate? Will they have time?

In light of the disaster and chaos caused by Hurricane Katrina, the questions by chairman Lt. Gov. Charles Fogarty focused on avoiding those mistakes.

"As prepared as we think we may be, what has been brought home to me, is that we are not as prepared as we should be," Fogarty said.

Much of the improvements are coming too late for this year's hurricane season. Some key plans -- the online statewide evacuation maps, accurate road signs for evacuation routes and shelters, public outreach about emergency preparedness -- are still being planned. The maps may be online next month. New street signs may take several months. The public outreach isn't expected until next year.

Pointed questions from Fogarty revealed several flaws in the state's planning. The answers were vague and conflicting about several issues:

The disaster plans have been tested on the local level, but not on a regional or statewide level.

What about buses? A representative from RIPTA said his agency wasn't informed about the new evacuation routes -- and wanted to be involved. While the state Emergency Management Agency said RIPTA would be on standby for help with evacuations, RIPTA said there was no defined plan.

What would happen to the stranded travelers left at T.F. Green Airport and the Amtrak stations?

How would the elderly, the disabled, those who don't speak English, and those without access to transportation be evacuated? Nursing homes are required to have evacuation plans. However, as the committee was told, some have plans geared mainly to respond to fires -- not floods. The state EMA is reviewing the plans and looking at adopting a template for all nursing homes to follow.

Where is everyone going to go? The evacuation routes will direct people to the shelters throughout the state. But if the coastal shelters are being evacuated, the only safe ground will be the higher ground in northwest Rhode Island. It was unknown how many evacuees the shelters in the upper corners of the state could handle.

The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana and Mississippi has Rhode Island officials taking a hard look at how prepared this state would be in a crisis. Visions of stranded people waving frantically from their rooftops, surrounded by water, and stories of bodies found in nursing homes and residents stranded in polluted waters have been the stuff of nightmares.

After the meeting, Fogarty said he needed better answers.

He blamed some problems on the lack of leadership at the state Emergency Management Agency over the last year, after former director Albert Scappaticci stepped done.

He expressed faith in new executive director Robert Warren, the former fire chief and EMA head in Cranston who was brought on board this month. "He has the experience and background," Fogarty said.

The state EMA has been working with the state Department of Transportation and local officials to develop a complete evacuation plan.

Some of the old evacuation routes run through areas that would be flooded. Some seem to be roads to nowhere. Others conflicted with those in neighboring cities, setting up situations where evacuees would be running into each other, instead of escaping.

The new plans, which are being loaded into digital computer maps, show the routes, the areas likely to be flooded, and the locations of shelters, among other details.

Pogue displayed the computer map to the committee; the map won't be available to the public for another month.

The digital map allows users to zero in on their own neighborhoods to find their closest evacuation route. The map also shows public safety officials the traffic controls that will be needed along the way.

Areas that would be flooded in a storm are colored green and yellow. Along the coast and up Narragansett and Mount Hope bays, they show Rhode Island towns turned into islands.

State emergency officials kept referring to being prepared for the next hurricane season.

How ready are we now? Fogarty kept asking them.

The towns and cities have emergency plans, Warren said. There are shelters available. There are places to move people inland.

"I don't see why we won't be ready," Warren said.