Providence EMA speaks on severe weather warnings after tornadoes in RI

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — On Friday, residents across Southern New England experienced severe weather including several tornadoes.

Clara Decerbo, Director of the Providence Emergency Management Agency said, “On Friday morning, the first thing National Weather Service issued was a severe weather service warning, which was followed by a flash food warning, and then a tornado warning.”

The sirens were not set off by the city, but by Brown University instead. The sirens are meant to warn residents of the severe weather and tornadoes.

The city of Providence decided to send out phone messages, rather than utilizing the sirens.

“Brown University triggered their sirens on their campus. Within the city, we issued notifications to personnel as well as public safety folks who were on the streets and working outside to make sure everyone was taking shelter and acting appropriately,” Decerbo explained to ABC 6 News.

Providence does not have a tornado siren, rather, four all-hazard emergency sirens.

“The sirens only cover a small portion of the city. They are only audible within about a mile radius from the port of Providence,” said Decerbo, explaining why the city did not set off their sirens Friday.

“On Friday we elected not to activate them because the emergency alert system warning that went out was full coverage of everyone in the city and it also had additional information on what actions to take with the alert and warning,” she continued.

To receive the most up-to-date notifications related to any type of emergency in Providence, you can sign up for “code red” high-speed mass notifications.

Decerbo wished to remind Rhode Islanders about the importance of being prepared for tornadoes, even though Rhode Island does not see them often with the last EF-2 touching down back in 1986.

“It is important for people to start knowing what to do in a tornado warning. You want to go to an interior room, away from any windows, ideally in a basement or lowest floor you have. Get away from windows and get to the lowest point in the building is the important thing to keep in mind with tornado warnings,” Decerbo concluded.