rhode

Obama Makes Unannounced Stop in Massachusetts to Survey Northeast’s Floods

by on April 1, 2010

By Nicholas Johnston and Kate Andersen Brower April 1 (Bloomberg) — President Barack Obama made an unannounced visit to Framingham, Massachusetts, today to get an update on the flooding caused by record rains in the area and to meet with Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick . Obama made the stop at the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency after giving a speech about health care in Portland, Maine. Patrick declared an emergency today in the state. About 850 National Guard troops are fighting the flood, said Peter Judge , spokesman for the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency. Record rain fell on the U.S. Northeast earlier this week, following two storms that had already left the ground saturated and rivers and streams on the verge of flooding, according to the National Weather Service . This week’s rain set records in Boston, New York and Providence. The president has pledged federal aid for Massachusetts and Rhode Island, including grants for temporary housing and low- cost loans to help cover uninsured property losses. The Red Cross estimates 180,000 to 200,000 people are affected by flooding in Rhode Island. Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano is scheduled to tour Rhode Island tomorrow. After the visit Obama will head to Boston tonight to speak at two fundraisers for the Democratic National Committee. To contact the reporters on this story: Nicholas Johnston in Framingham, Massachusetts, at 1264 or njohnston3@bloomberg.net ;

Originally posted here:
Obama Makes Unannounced Stop in Massachusetts to Survey Northeast’s Floods

Massachusetts, Rhode Island Declare Rain Emergencies

by on March 30, 2010

By Aaron Clark March 30 (Bloomberg) — Massachusetts and Rhode Island declared emergencies and Boston recorded unprecedented rainfall as storms pounded the U.S. Northeast for a second day today. Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick mobilized about 1,000 National Guard troops because of the threat of “beach erosion, major flooding and widespread road closures,” according to a statement on his Web site yesterday. “In some cases there has been two months of rain in the matter of a few days,” Tom Kines , a senior meteorologist for AccuWeather Inc., said in a telephone interview. “When you get that much rain over a few-day period, that spells trouble.” Boston’s Charles River is set to break the record crest of 9.24 feet reached in August 1955 after two hurricanes dumped more than 26 inches of rain on the region in less than two weeks, according to the National Weather Service. In Rhode Island, where officials warned of “historic flooding,” Governor Donald Carcieri urged residents to leave work early and head home, said a spokeswoman, Amy Kempe. As much as 8 inches of rain is expected in parts of Rhode Island before the three-day storm ends tomorrow, with the Pawtuxet and Blackstone basins hardest-hit, said the state’s Emergency Management Agency. Boston’s Logan Airport set a single-day record for rain after 1.96 inches fell yesterday, breaking the high of 1.85 inches set in 1984. Storm Upon Storm Flooding in the Northeast from two storms earlier this month caused more than $10 million in damage, drove residents from their homes as power failed and sewer systems backed up, and washed out a section of the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority’s Green Line light rail service. An AccuWeather meteorologist, Jesse Ferrell, posted a radar loop showing, by his count, 22 storms hitting the Northeast since the official start of the winter season Dec. 1, with almost double the average amount of moisture. “The rain is still coming down very heavily and it has caused major street flooding, major street closures, throughout” Rhode Island, said Kempe. “The governor is recommending that individuals consider leaving work early to head home.” Mandatory evacuations are under way in the state, although Kempe said she did not know how many. State officials are monitoring Interstate 95, which runs from Maine to Florida, and will close it if necessary, she said. Rivers Rise The Pawtuxet River in Cranston, Rhode Island, set a flooding record of 15.07 feet at 9:45 a.m. and is expected to reach 17.5 feet by tomorrow, according to the weather service. The weather service projects the Charles River at Dover, Massachusetts, will reach 9.9 feet on April 1. The 1955 storms and flooding killed at least 180 people and caused more than $650 million in damage, including the complete or partial failures of more than 200 dams in southern New England, according to the National Weather Service. Both Boston and Providence, Rhode Island, have set records this month for the wettest March in history, AccuWeather said. An additional 1.06 inches had fallen at Logan Airport as of 10 a.m. today, according to the National Weather Service . March 2010 is already the fourth wettest-month in Boston history and may become the second-wettest. New York City had received a monthly total of 10.16 inches by early today, heading toward the March record of 10.54 inches set in 1983. About 150 people have evacuated their homes in the Fall River area in southeast Massachusetts because of flooding, said Peter Judge , a spokesman for the state’s Emergency Management Agency . Record flooding is forecast on the Sudbury and Assabet rivers, he said. “Every river in central and eastern Massachusetts is expected to be at well-above flood stage before this storm is over,” Judge said. To contact the reporter on this story: Aaron Clark in New York at aclark27@bloomberg.net

See the article here:
Massachusetts, Rhode Island Declare Rain Emergencies

Massachusetts, Rhode Island Declare Emergencies as Rain Pounds Northeast

March 30, 2010

By Aaron Clark March 30 (Bloomberg) — Massachusetts and Rhode Island declared emergencies and Boston recorded unprecedented rainfall as storms pounded the U.S. Northeast for a second day today. Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick mobilized about 1,000 National Guard troops because of the threat of “beach erosion, major flooding and widespread road closures,” according to a statement on his Web site yesterday. “In some cases there has been two months of rain in the matter of a few days,” Tom Kines , a senior meteorologist for AccuWeather Inc., said in a telephone interview. “When you get that much rain over a few-day period, that spells trouble.” Boston’s Charles River is set to break the record crest of 9.24 feet reached in August 1955 after two hurricanes dumped more than 26 inches of rain on the region in less than two weeks, according to the National Weather Service. In Rhode Island, where officials warned of “historic flooding,” Governor Donald Carcieri urged residents to leave work early and head home, said a spokeswoman, Amy Kempe. As much as 8 inches of rain is expected in parts of Rhode Island before the three-day storm ends tomorrow, with the Pawtuxet and Blackstone basins hardest-hit, said the state’s Emergency Management Agency. Boston’s Logan Airport set a single-day record for rain after 1.96 inches fell yesterday, breaking the high of 1.85 inches set in 1984. Storm Upon Storm Flooding in the Northeast from two storms earlier this month caused more than $10 million in damage, drove residents from their homes as power failed and sewer systems backed up, and washed out a section of the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority’s Green Line light rail service. An AccuWeather meteorologist, Jesse Ferrell, posted a radar loop showing, by his count, 22 storms hitting the Northeast since the official start of the winter season Dec. 1, with almost double the average amount of moisture. “The rain is still coming down very heavily and it has caused major street flooding, major street closures, throughout” Rhode Island, said Kempe. “The governor is recommending that individuals consider leaving work early to head home.” Mandatory evacuations are under way in the state, although Kempe said she did not know how many. State officials are monitoring Interstate 95, which runs from Maine to Florida, and will close it if necessary, she said. Rivers Rise The Pawtuxet River in Cranston, Rhode Island, set a flooding record of 15.07 feet at 9:45 a.m. and is expected to reach 17.5 feet by tomorrow, according to the weather service. The weather service projects the Charles River at Dover, Massachusetts, will reach 9.9 feet on April 1. The 1955 storms and flooding killed at least 180 people and caused more than $650 million in damage, including the complete or partial failures of more than 200 dams in southern New England, according to the National Weather Service. Both Boston and Providence, Rhode Island, have set records this month for the wettest March in history, AccuWeather said. An additional 1.06 inches had fallen at Logan Airport as of 10 a.m. today, according to the National Weather Service . March 2010 is already the fourth wettest-month in Boston history and may become the second-wettest. New York City had received a monthly total of 10.16 inches by early today, heading toward the March record of 10.54 inches set in 1983. About 150 people have evacuated their homes in the Fall River area in southeast Massachusetts because of flooding, said Peter Judge , a spokesman for the state’s Emergency Management Agency . Record flooding is forecast on the Sudbury and Assabet rivers, he said. “Every river in central and eastern Massachusetts is expected to be at well-above flood stage before this storm is over,” Judge said. To contact the reporter on this story: Aaron Clark in New York at aclark27@bloomberg.net

Read the full article →

Massachusetts Declares Emergency as Rain Pounds Northeast for Second Day

March 30, 2010

By Aaron Clark March 30 (Bloomberg) — Massachusetts declared a state of emergency and Rhode Island warned of “historic flooding” as rainfall pounded the U.S. Northeast again today. Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick planned to mobilize as many as 1,000 National Guard troops as rainfall was forecast to cause “beach erosion, major flooding, and widespread road closures,” according to a statement yesterday. As much as 8 inches of rain is expected in parts of Rhode Island before the three-day storm ends tomorrow, with the Pawtuxet and Blackstone basins hardest-hit, according to a statement from the state’s Emergency Management Agency. “When you get that much rain over a few-day period, that spells trouble,” Tom Kines , a senior meteorologist for AccuWeather Inc., said in a telephone interview. “In some cases there has been two months of rain in the matter of a few days.” Flooding in the Northeast from two storms earlier this month caused more than $10 million in damage, drove residents from their homes as power failed and sewer systems backed up, and washed out a section of the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority’s Green Line light rail service. “Significant river and small stream flooding is likely. Urban and basement flooding are also significant threats,” according to a National Weather Service bulletin . “Residents should take action to protect property.” The Pawtuxet River in Cranston, Rhode Island, which set a flooding record of 14.98 feet March 15, is expected to reach a new record of 17.5 feet by tomorrow, according to the weather service. The river was at 14.79 feet at 8:45 a.m. Both Boston and Providence, Rhode Island, have set records this month for the wettest March in history, AccuWeather said. New York City had received a monthly total of 9.25 inches as of 9 a.m., heading toward the March record of 10.54 set in 1983. An AccuWeather meteorologist, Jesse Ferrell, posted a radar loop showing, by his count, 22 storms hitting the Northeast since the official start of the winter season Dec. 1, with almost double the average amount of moisture. To contact the reporter on this story: Aaron Clark in New York at aclark27@bloomberg.net

Read the full article →

Massachusetts Declares Emergency as Rain Pounds Northeast for Second Day

March 30, 2010

By Aaron Clark March 30 (Bloomberg) — Massachusetts declared a state of emergency and Rhode Island warned of “historic flooding” as rainfall pounded the U.S. Northeast again today. Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick planned to mobilize as many as 1,000 National Guard troops as rainfall was forecast to cause “beach erosion, major flooding, and widespread road closures,” according to a statement yesterday. As much as 8 inches of rain is expected in parts of Rhode Island before the three-day storm ends tomorrow, with the Pawtuxet and Blackstone basins hardest-hit, according to a statement from the state’s Emergency Management Agency. “When you get that much rain over a few-day period, that spells trouble,” Tom Kines , a senior meteorologist for AccuWeather Inc., said in a telephone interview. “In some cases there has been two months of rain in the matter of a few days.” Flooding in the Northeast from two storms earlier this month caused more than $10 million in damage, drove residents from their homes as power failed and sewer systems backed up, and washed out a section of the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority’s Green Line light rail service. “Significant river and small stream flooding is likely. Urban and basement flooding are also significant threats,” according to a National Weather Service bulletin . “Residents should take action to protect property.” The Pawtuxet River in Cranston, Rhode Island, which set a flooding record of 14.98 feet March 15, is expected to reach a new record of 17.5 feet by tomorrow, according to the weather service. The river was at 14.79 feet at 8:45 a.m. Both Boston and Providence, Rhode Island, have set records this month for the wettest March in history, AccuWeather said. New York City had received a monthly total of 9.25 inches as of 9 a.m., heading toward the March record of 10.54 set in 1983. An AccuWeather meteorologist, Jesse Ferrell, posted a radar loop showing, by his count, 22 storms hitting the Northeast since the official start of the winter season Dec. 1, with almost double the average amount of moisture. To contact the reporter on this story: Aaron Clark in New York at aclark27@bloomberg.net

Read the full article →

New York City May Get as Much as 10 Inches of Snow Starting Early Thursday

February 24, 2010

By Brian K. Sullivan and Alex Morales Feb. 24 (Bloomberg) — Snow will probably begin falling in New York City by 3 a.m. tomorrow, and before the storm ends a day later there may be as much as 10 inches (25 centimeters) on the ground, according to the National Weather Service. Between 5 and 10 inches of snow is forecast to fall on New York with as much as 14 inches to the north and west of the city, said Matt Scalora, a weather service meteorologist in Upton, New York . Tomorrow’s snow will be from the second storm to hit the area this week. A system that brought rain to New York City and 12 inches of snow to Albany starting yesterday is now disrupting air traffic in Philadelphia and New York’s La Guardia Airport. It will move into Maine today, said Eric Wilhelm of private- forecaster AccuWeather.com . “A really complex situation is developing in the Northeast,” Wilhelm said by telephone from State College, Pennsylvania. “The Northeast is being impacted by one storm now, and the monster storm is going to impact the region tomorrow into Friday.” Wilhelm said an exact forecast for snowfall in New York will be difficult because a slight variation in the track of the second storm could mean no snow at all for the city or even more than forecast. “It is a very tricky forecast in that zone,” Wilhelm said. More Washington Snow Wilhelm said Washington may receive about 3 inches of snow from the storm, while Boston and Providence, Rhode Island, will likely just experience rain and heavy winds. The storms will add to what’s already been a benchmark winter in the eastern U.S., where seasonal snowfall records were broken in Washington and Baltimore. Philadelphia may receive as much as 8 inches of snow, according to the National Weather Service in Mount Holly, New Jersey. Delays of about an hour were being reported today at LaGuardia airport and about 30 minutes at Philadelphia International Airport, according to the Federal Aviation Administration’s Web site. Winter snow warnings and watches have been issued from northern Virginia to Maine, the weather service reported. A storm watch means snow can be expected within 12 to 36 hours, while a warning means it has already started or is about to begin. Tomorrow’s snow will likely be heavy and wet, Wilhelm said. The storm will also produce high winds through much of the Northeast, he said. High Winds Scalora said wind gusts as intense as 30 miles per hour (48 kilometers per hour) could whip New York. On the Rhode Island and Massachusetts coasts, gusts as high as 70 mph may occur, Wilhelm said. “There could be real problems with power outages,” Wilhelm said. “That could be the real legacy of this storm.” The heavy snow will taper off the day after tomorrow, although snow flurries and clouds will linger over much of the Northeast through the weekend, Wilhelm said. To contact the reporters on this story: Brian K. Sullivan in Boston at bsullivan10@bloomberg.net ; Alex Morales in London at amorales2@bloomberg.net

Read the full article →

Bancorp Rhode Island Inc. Reports Operating Results (10-Q) (Guru Focus)

November 4, 2009

By 10qk. Bancorp Rhode Island Inc. ( BARI ) filed Quarterly Report for the period ended 2009-09-30. Read more » »

Read the full article →

Video: More Perspective – Rhode Island’s Financial Crisis

September 4, 2009

Interview with Rhode Island AFSCME Council 94 Acting Executive Director Joseph Peckham (Bloomberg News)

Read the full article →

Video: Inside Look – Rhode Island’s Financial Crisis

September 4, 2009

Interview with Gary Sasse, Director of Rhode Island Dept. of Administration (Bloomberg News)

Read the full article →