Communication in Emergencies: Rhode Island

Emergency responders clearly vary according to the type of emergency. Typically, in Rhode Island, emergency responders include local firefighters and police officers, local officials, and the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency (RIEMA). There are emergency responders in both the Department of Health and the Department Emergency Management as well, and these officials often work with RIEMA.

The declaration of an official "state of emergency" is at the will of the governor. Declaring a state of emergency triggers formal plans to go into effect, as well as enables the state to become open to federal disaster relief and monies. A general state of emergency can be declared, as well as a water emergency.

Rhode Island does have systems in place for how to deal with particular emergencies. For example, in the case of a water emergency, there are various structures set up depending on the cause of the emergency, be it a drought, a bacterial contamination, an industrial contamination, etc. These procedures are detailed in a guideplan prepared by the Division of Planning for the state in 1993, after a serious bacterial contamination in the city of Pawtucket the previous summer, which was due to a break in the line and lasted for several weeks. These plans, for the most part, also indicate the use of an ICS system.

Emergency plans throughout the country, however, are currently in revision. In a post 9/11 world of heighened concern about security and emergency issues, states are under a mandate to revise their emergency plans, especially plans for responses to bioterrorism attacks. Since one method of using bioterrorism would be to target water supplies, plans concerning water are under careful scrutiny. The Rhode Island emergency plans are still being revised by an interagency team consisting of members from HEALTH, DEM, RIEMA, and other state agencies.

All emergencies are different, but some agencies which could be involved are:

• RIEMA (The Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency)
• DEM (The Department of Environmental Management)
• HEALTH (The Department of Health)
• The Office of the Governor
• the state police
• local police and fire fighters
• the National Guard