United Way of Rhode Island connects communities with critical resources before, during, and after disasters. In times of crisis, we stand United
Our Commitment to Disaster Resilience
United Way of Rhode Island is dedicated to helping our Rhode Island community mitigate against, prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters. Through strategic partnerships and community engagement, we work to ensure that all Rhode Islanders, especially the most vulnerable, have access to the support they need in times of crisis.
United Way of Rhode Island is dedicated to:
- Reduce risk before disaster strikes
- Stay informed and ready for emergencies
- Respond quickly to urgent needs
- Rebuild stronger and more equitably
Our goal is to ensure no Rhode Islander faces a crisis alone, especially our most vulnerable neighbors.
Helpline in Emergencies
Our 211 helpline is available 24/7, providing assistance and connecting individuals with information regarding essential services such as shelter, food, and medical care during emergencies.
In 2020, United Way of Rhode Island awarded $600,000 in 'Rhode Island Recovers' grants to 41 local organizations, supporting their ability to continue vital services amid the COVID-19 crisis. https://www.unitedwayri.org/press-release/united-way-sends-600000-in-rhode-island-recovers-grants-to-41-local-organizations-to-support-continuity-of-serv
UWRI's commitment to disaster preparedness, immediate relief, and long-term recovery
Preparedness: Providing resources and education to help communities prepare for disasters.
Immediate Relief: Mobilizing resources quickly to provide shelter, food, and essential services.
Long-Term Recovery: Collaborating with partners to rebuild and restore affected communities.
Resources to Know:
Find information and tips about how to prepare for a disaster, plan templates, and more at these sites.
Floodplain Mapping | Emergency Management Agency
FEMA Flood Map Service Center | Welcome!
Department of Homeland Security - Plan Ahead for Disasters | Ready.gov Spanish: Listo.gov Planifique con anticipación para los desastres | Ready.gov
Sign-up alerts for:
Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency:
Welcome | Emergency Management Agency Direct sign-up link: Community Notification Enrollment
Rhode Island Department of Health: Emergencies | Department of Health
Local Emergency Management Agencies:
City of Providence Emergency Management Agency Office of Homeland Security - City of Providence
Emergency Management | City of East Providence, RI
Emergency Management | East Greenwich, RI
Emergency Management Agency | City of Woonsocket RI
All Rhode Island Emergency Contacts through RIEMA
Local Contacts | Emergency Management Agency
Preparedness Tools and Education
Building a Disaster Kit:
In Rhode Island, where coastal storms, winter weather, and power outages are real concerns, having a well-stocked emergency supply kit is essential.
Find information on building a kit at Build A Kit | Ready.gov
Make a Family Plan
Step 1: Create a Family Emergency Plan
Sit down with your household and make a simple, clear plan for what to do during different types of disasters (storms, floods, fires, etc.).
Use FEMA’s Family Emergency Plan Template (PDF): Family Emergency Plan
Include:
- Meeting locations (one near home, one outside neighborhood)
- Emergency contacts (in and out of state)
- Evacuation routes and shelter locations
- Special needs or medications for household members
Step 2: Establish a Communication Plan
During disasters, local phone lines may be down. Choose an out-of-state relative or friend as your main contact. Teach all family members how to text and when to call 911.
Use this worksheet: Family Communication Plan | Ready.gov
Step 3: Build a Custom Emergency Supply Kit
Each person needs 72 hours of essential supplies:
Step 4: Know Your Local Hazards & Evacuation Routes
Rhode Island’s coastal location puts it at risk for hurricanes, flooding, and nor’easters.
Learn what disasters affect your area:
Welcome | Emergency Management Agency
Sign up for alerts in your area:
- Code Red Community Notification Enrollment
- View hurricane evacuation maps (PDF):
- Evacuation | Emergency Management Agency
- Step 5: Include Pets and Seniors
- Pets should have:
- Food, water, collar/ID, leash
- Crate or carrier
- Medications and vet info
- Care for older adults or those with disabilities:
- Extra medications, mobility aids
- Backup power for medical devices
- Include your caregiver in planning
- You can help save animals today. | ASPCA
- People with Disabilities | Ready.gov
- Step 6: Practice Your Plan
- Review and rehearse your plan twice a year:
- Fire drill and evacuation practice
- Practice using go bags and emergency contacts
- Update kits and plans as family needs change
- Print this plan and keep copies:
- In go-bags
- In cars
- With your emergency contact
Flood Insurance
Rhode Island is vulnerable to flooding from hurricanes, coastal storms, nor’easters, and heavy rainfall. Standard homeowners or renters insurance does not cover flood damage. That means just one inch of water could cost thousands of dollars in repairs—and only flood insurance can protect against that.
How to Get Flood Insurance in Rhode Island
Flood insurance is available through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), managed by FEMA, and sold by most private insurance agents.
You can buy flood insurance for:
- Homes
- Condos
- Businesses
- Renters (to cover contents)
30-Day Waiting Period
There’s usually a 30-day waiting period before coverage begin so don’t wait until a storm is on the horizon to buy.
RIEMA Flood Resources Page:
FEMA Flood Map Tool (Know Your Zone):
https://msc.fema.gov/portal/home
Check your property’s flood risk.
Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC):
They oversee construction and rebuilding in coastal flood zones and offer floodplain development advice.
BE READY, STAY SAFE INFECTIOUS DISEASE
Infectious disease outbreaks can happen unexpectedly.
The best way to prevent many infectious diseases is to get a vaccine for yourself and for your children on the schedule that the public health authorities recommend.
Sometimes, new and harmful viruses emerge, and humans do not have any immunity to them. When that happens, it is very easy for the virus to spread across the world quickly, and do much damage. This is called a pandemic.
Best ways to stay safe during a pandemic or infectious disease outbreak:
- Stay informed. Watch or listen to the news.
- Avoid misinformation by using trusted health information resources.
- Follow public health advice.
- Wash hands often with water and soap.
- Know the signs and symptoms of infectious diseases.
- Avoid crowded places.
- Go to the doctor if you are sick.
- Wear a mask when public health authorities recommend it.
Call 211 or the ADRC if you need to connect with health or vaccination resources.
Prepare Your Household
- Keep extra medicine on hand, and enough food and water for several days.
- Keep enough food for your pets to last several days.
- Create a plan for working from home and for childcare.
- Stay connected with friends and neighbors.
You can help 211 support Rhode Islanders in need 24/7/365.
BE READY, STAY SAFE FIRE PREPAREDNESS AND CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING
Fire and smoke can spread quickly and be deadly. Being prepared can help you and your loved ones stay safe in an emergency.
Carbon monoxide is an invisible gas which has no odor. It is also very poisonous, and can make people and pets ill, or even kill them.
What can you do?
Call 911 immediately if you smell smoke or see fire.
How can you prevent a fire or carbon monoxide poisoning in your home?
- Install smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and test them each month.
- Change the batteries when you change the clocks in the spring and in the fall.
- Identify two ways to escape each room in your home.
- Develop a fire escape plan and pick a meeting point outside of your home.
- Make sure your children know what to do and where to meet you.
- Practice your plan at least twice a year.
Call 211 if you need to connect with your local fire station to help make a fire safety plan.
Prepare Your Home
- Make sure your home is accessible to firefighters
- Firefighters should be able to see the number of your house clearly from the street.
- Keep a charged fire extinguisher near your kitchen.
- Check the expiration date on your extinguisher at least once a year.
- Store paint cans, thinner, gasoline, and other flammable materials safely.
- Make sure nothing flammable is too close to your boiler or water heater
- Know how to shut off the gas and electricity if a fire starts in your basement.
You can help 211 support Rhode Islanders in need 24/7/365.
BE READY, STAY SAFE NATURAL DISASTERS
- Know your risks and identify hazards in your area (floods, earthquakes, fires, etc.)
- Buy insurance for your home and review its coverage every year.
- Sign up to receive emergency alerts and listen to the news.
- Make a family emergency plan and make sure your family understands it.
- Decide on a safe meeting point away from home in case phones do not work.
- Learn and practice evacuation routes from your home or workplace.
- Keep phones and extra phone batteries charged.
- Keep at least a half tank of gasoline in your car at all times.
Make a basic “Go” Kit
- Important ID and personal documents that are difficult to replace (passports, birth certificates, copy of your home deed.)
- Prescription medications for humans and pets
- Enough water for three days (1 gallon per person per day)
- Enough food that doesn’t need refrigeration for three days
- Can opener
- Battery-powered or hand crank radio
- Flashlight and extra batteries
- Phone charger
- First aid kit
- Cash
During some emergencies, 211 coordinates with the RI Emergency Management Agency (RIEMA) to help Rhode Islanders find shelter locations, vaccinations sites, warming centers, etc.
Call United Way’s 211 helpline for assistance.
You can help 211 support Rhode Islanders in need 24/7/365.
STORM PREPAREDNESS - Make a Kit. Make a Plan. Stay Informed.
To-do in advance
- Know if you live in a flood zone and buy flood insurance if you can.
- Learn evacuation routes from your home.
- Decide on a meeting point with loved ones.
- Trim trees and clean gutters
- Have your local emergency contacts and phone numbers printed.
- Make plans for your pets –not all shelters allow animals.
Right before the storm
- Secure or bring outdoor items inside
- Board up windows with storm shutters or plywood
- Charge your phones and extra phone batteries
- Identify a safe room in your home, on high ground and away from windows.
During the Storm
- Take shelter in your safe room.
- Stay tuned to the news and emergency broadcasts.
- Follow evacuation orders. Do not drive into flooded areas or moving water.
- Shut off your gas and electricity if the authorities recommend it.
- If you are using a generator, make sure it is outdoors and at least 20 ft away from the house to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
- If 211 is activated, we will have a list of shelter locations and other resources available.
- Use phones for emergencies only.
- Let family & friends know your location and your plans.
After the Storm
- Return home only when it's declared safe.
- Avoid flooded roads & downed power lines.
- Take pictures of the damage to show your insurance company.
- Throw out any food that was at room temperature over 4 hours.
- 211 can help you connect with FEMA to make a report
You can help 211 support Rhode Islanders during emergencies.
It’s time to broaden view of what nonprofits really are. Hope & Main shows how
I’ve spent the majority of my life immersed in the nonprofit sector, and one of the most common misconceptions is that they’re often placed beneath a "social services" umbrella. That narrow view couldn’t be further from the truth.
When nonprofits are seen only as organizations that address basic needs, it’s a limited perception that overlooks their far-reaching influence. They are the heartbeat of our communities, enhancing and influencing our daily lives in ways many do not even notice.
Nonprofits can be found everywhere – from youth sports leagues and museums to community gardens, arts foundations and public media. Your niece’s town soccer team? They’re part of a nonprofit. Enjoying a WaterFire lighting, hiking at a preserve or watching PBS on a quiet evening? Those experiences are made possible by nonprofits as well. They’re also economic engines, civic leaders and innovation hubs. Sometimes, they’re all of those things at once.
Volunteers Needed for “Day of Action” on June 7 to Help Prepare Donated Books for Distribution to Local Children
Providence, R.I. (May 27, 2025) – United Way of Rhode Island’s annual “Day of Action” is quickly approaching, and the organization is looking for additional volunteers to help prepare thousands of donated books for distribution to local children. The event is one of United Way’s largest volunteer-driven initiatives of the year to improve childhood literacy.
“Day of Action” will take place on Saturday, June 7, at United Way’s 50 Valley Street headquarters in Providence, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. It is a fun, family-friendly event and provides a great opportunity for individuals needing community service hours for school or professional development.
During “Day of Action,” volunteers will help with sorting, labeling, and packaging thousands of books collected during United Way’s recent Children’s Book Drive in partnership with Books Are Wings, whose mission is to put free books in the hands of kids. Thanks to the drive’s many partners, community drop-off locations, and collections organized by businesses, schools, and other groups, the effort has thus far collected more than 10,000 books.
Once the books are ready for their new homes, Books Are Wings will distribute them to children across Rhode Island through summer learning and afterschool programs.
Volunteers on “Day of Action” will receive United Way “UNITED IS THE WAY” t-shirts and refreshments, including a pizza lunch at 12:15 p.m. Families and children are welcome and encouraged to participate; those aged 16 and under must be accompanied and supervised by an adult.
If you would like to volunteer, or if you have questions, please contact Lori DiMatteo at Lori.DiMatteo@unitedwayri.org. Volunteers may also us this link to register.
Over the past decade, United Way’s Children’s Book Drive has provided more than 300,000 books to kids throughout the Ocean State.
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United Way of Rhode Island is uniting our community and resources to build racial equity and opportunities for all Rhode Islanders. As a member of the world’s largest nonprofit network, we bring together individuals, business, nonprofit, community leaders and government to tackle the root causes of inequity and achieve specific, measurable goals. Our programs include 211, the statewide front door connecting Rhode Islanders with social services, resources, and vital programs. Both directly and through grants to nonprofits, we are investing to build economic opportunity, advance childhood learning, expand philanthropy, and to drive policy and participation. To learn more, visit unitedwayri.org, or follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, or Instagram.
United Way of Rhode Island Statement on the House Budget Cuts
United is the Way— and that means standing up for every Rhode Islander.
At United Way of Rhode Island, we believe budgets are moral documents — they reveal what we truly value. The budget passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on May 22 fails that test.
This federal budget proposal would devastate communities across our state. It includes sweeping cuts to programs that tens of thousands of Rhode Islanders rely on — putting healthcare, food assistance, housing, education, and veterans’ services at risk.
Slashing Medicaid funding and adding harsh work requirements would jeopardize care for more than 366,000 Rhode Islanders — including older adults, people with disabilities, and veterans who’ve earned better. Cuts to SNAP would force families to choose between food and rent. And new restrictions on services for homeless students and immigrant families betray our most basic commitments to dignity and fairness.
Every day, through 211, we hear the real stories behind the headlines — Rhode Islanders struggling to afford food, find housing, or access healthcare — and we’re here, answering the call, connecting them to the help they need.
By gutting funding for clean energy, stripping environmental protections, and attacking safety net services, this bill tears at the very foundation of strong communities.
Rhode Island should never be punished for choosing compassion — for expanding healthcare access, investing in sustainability, and protecting our neighbors. This isn’t just bad policy. It’s a betrayal of what we stand for.
Rhode Island deserves a budget that builds people up — not one that tears them down in the name of tax cuts.
It is critical that we advocate for the needs of our residents and take action that shows
United Is The Way. Because fairness and dignity, is critical to create a Rhode Island where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
📞 Call your U.S. Senators today and tell them you stand with them in standing up for the people of Rhode Island.
Senator Jack Reed: (401) 943-3100 https://www.reed.senate.gov/contact
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse: (401) 453- 5294 https://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/contact/
Contact Jack | U.S. Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island
The Official U.S. Senate website of Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island
Lawyers’ Committee for RI seeks Volunteer Attorneys to help Nonprofits Navigate the Evolving Regulatory and Funding Landscapes
Warwick, RI – [April 28, 2025] – The Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) has partnered with United Way of Rhode Island to establish a satellite 211 office on CCRI’s Warwick campus, expanding access to essential community resources for students. This collaboration underscores CCRI’s ongoing commitment to removing barriers to student success and ensuring students have the support they need to thrive both in and out of the classroom.
CCRI Partners with United Way to Open 211 Satellite Office on Warwick Campus
Warwick, RI – [April 28, 2025] – The Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) has partnered with United Way of Rhode Island to establish a satellite 211 office on CCRI’s Warwick campus, expanding access to essential community resources for students. This collaboration underscores CCRI’s ongoing commitment to removing barriers to student success and ensuring students have the support they need to thrive both in and out of the classroom.
United Way Accelerates $1.5 Million in Grant Payments to Support Rhode Island Nonprofits Amid Funding Uncertainty
Recognizing the urgency of the financial strain facing local nonprofits, United Way of Rhode Island is taking a major step to provide timely critical support to its funded partners. The organization has released more than $1.5 million in grant payments nearly three months ahead of schedule, delivering early disbursements to 41 nonprofits across the state.
UPCOMING EVENTS
RI Young Professionals Statewide Summer Social
Join us for Rhode Island's re-vamped Young Professional Statewide Summer Social.
Co-hosted by United Way of Rhode Island's Emerging Leaders program, Millennial Rhode Island, and Southern Rhode Island Young Professionals, this is the largest young professionals networking event of the year and your chance to connect with your peers across companies, industries, and sectors.
When and Where?
Whaler's Brewing Co.
1174 Kingstown Road
South Kingstown, RI 02879
Wednesday, July 9th, 5:30pm-7:30pm
https://uwriweb.org/comm/SinglePageRegEvent.jsp?EventKeyHex=3136323132
Day of Action 2025
Day of Action is a worldwide United Way event, offering volunteer opportunities focused on the work of local United Way organizations. In Rhode Island, the Day of Action will be held on Saturday, June 7, 2025, from 9 AM - 1 PM to sort, label, and prepare the books for distribution to children in summer learning and afterschool programs.
To register, please click here: https://uwriweb.org/comm/SinglePageRegEvent.jsp?EventKeyHex=3135383931