Hurricane Sandy Updates – Thursday, Nov. 1

5:20 p.m. – From Johnny’s Barkin’ Bakery (South County Commons) on Facebook:

So many families with pets are suffering due to the hurricane. Help out by donating pet food for the Animal Rescue League of Southern Rhode Island's Pet Pantry.

Bring any dry/canned pet food item into Johnny's Barkin' Bakery now through Sunday, Nov. 4 and receive 20 percent OFF any one regular priced item!

(Excludes cat/dog food. Cannot be combined with other offers nor used towards gift cards.)

4:41 p.m. – PRESS: The Rhode Island Department of Health (HEALTH) is issuing cautionary boil water advisories for the following 12 water systems as a result of loss of system pressure:

Wakefield:

• YMCA Camp Fuller, 619 Camp Fuller Road, 401-783-5359

Charlestown:

• The Corner Deli, 2 Charlestown Beach Road, 401-792-3861
• Cumberland Farms Store #1262, 508-270-1493
• Indian Cedar Mobile Home Park, 12 Foxtrot Drive, 401-728-4631
• Michael's Shell Station, 5860 Post Road, 401-332-1881

Exeter:

• South County Business Park, 567 S. County Trail, Suite 111, 401-295-0300
• Wolf Rock Country Kitchen, Inc., 806 S. County Trail, 401-294-4251

Foster:

• Abbey Lane Community Association, Inc., 6 Abbey Lane, 401-647-2729

Hopkinton:

• Hopkinton Industrial Park, LLC, 15 Gray Lane, 860-460-4820

Little Compton:

• Stone House Club, 122 Sakonnet Point Road, 401-635-2222

North Smithfield:

• Cumberland Farms Store #1274, 800-452-0333

Richmond:

• Dunkin' Donuts, 418 Kingston Road, 401-440-6850

Yesterday, HEALTH issued advisories to seven other water systems due to low or no pressure, bringing the total to 19 water systems with boil water advisories.

HEALTH recommends that water being used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, cooking, or bathing of infants should be boiled for one minute and allowed to cool before using. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water. Bottled water can also be used.

The water systems have experienced low or no water pressure, which can affect water quality and safety. Low or no pressure makes a water system vulnerable to contamination, inviting bacteria and other contaminants. The water system is working closely with HEALTH to correct the problem as soon as possible.

This boil water advisory is in effect until further notice from HEALTH. Customers of the affected water systems are asked to contact neighbors who may not be aware of this advisory.

For information, contact the public water systems at the phone numbers listed above. 

For general information about drinking water, contact HEALTH’s Information Line at 401-222-5960 / RI Relay 711, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

For information on guidelines for food establishments during and after a boil water advisory, visit here.

4:15 p.m. – A few more updates with information sent in to us…

• If you’re looking for a place to recharge that’s free, the YMCA is offering power stations and hot showers. However, you do need to present a photo ID and sign a waiver.
• All schools in South Kingstown will be session tomorrow. I haven’t received word about Narragansett Elementary School, but I will let everyone know if I hear one way or the other.
• According to National Grid’s online map and a statement released by the company, they expect power to be restored in almost all areas of Rhode Island by midnight Friday / Saturday. The exception would be places with severe damage, like Matunuck and portions of Charlestown, where repairs or even rebuilding needs to take place.
• The 10th annual Pumpkin Launch is still taking place Saturday, Nov. 3, with a rain date of Sunday, Nov. 4. It is at Carpenter’s Farm on Matunuck Beach Road, starting at 12:30 p.m. For more details, see the attached PDF.
• I have 2,100 unread e-mails, and still no power at my apartment as of this afternoon. So, uh, if you e-mailed me in the past week and I haven’t gotten back to you I profusely apologize…

12:24 p.m. – Afternoon update time!

• The South Kingstown Parks and Recreation Department at the Neighborhood Guild wanted me to pass along that the are now fully powered. If you have any questions about whether a class or course is still being held, call (401) 789-9301.
• There haven’t been any changes to the restoration times on the National Electric online outage map, but I’ve heard High Street and some other places have gotten restored well ahead of the estimates, thankfully.
• Want to volunteer to help in the aftermath of Sandy? East Greenwich Patch has a good article about opportunities locally.
• If you’ve been hit hard by the hurricane and need counseling, there is help available. The toll-free Disaster Distress Helpline (800-985-5990) is sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Association. Callers are immediately connected to trained professionals from the closest crisis counseling center in the nationwide network.
• Representative Teresa Tanzi issued the following statement: Those who receive SNAP benefits (food stamps) are eligible for assistance to help replace food that is lost as a result of power outage or other storm-related problems, but they have to act quickly. Those in such a situation need to fill out a form called “SNAP 55,” available from the Department of Human Services, within 10 days of the loss. For help or the form, call the local DHS office at (401) 782-4300, or the SNAP emergency help line, 866-306-0270.
• Also from Tanzi: The Johnnycake Center’s emergency food pantry will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily until power is restored to the area. (The agency’s administrative offices, client services and store will be closed until power returns). The agency also has water available for anyone who needs drinking water, regardless of whether they are clients.
• Workers unemployed due to the effects of Hurricane Sandy may be able to waive their one-week waiting period for benefits, according to Governor Lincoln D. Chafee and Director of Labor and Training Charles J. Fogarty. To be deemed eligible for the benefit relief and the waiting period waiver, employers must first submit an application to the Department of Labor and Training. Applications are available for downloading at www.dlt.ri.gov. To assist employers with this process, the Department of Labor and Training has set up a dedicated employer information line at (401) 462-8999 and an email address at uiemployerhelp@dlt.ri.gov. Please note that this contact information is for employers only and is not intended for individual claimants. 

7:19 a.m. – National Grid now has restoration estimates for most of South County on its online outage map:

• Narragansett Pier and a good portion of Route 108 is estimated to be back on Thursday, Nov. 1, 11:59 p.m.
• The length of Ocean Road in Narragansett and its side roads are estimated to return to power Friday, Nov. 2, 6 a.m.
• The Foddering Farm Road area of Narragansett is estimated to be back Friday, Nov. 2, 11:59 p.m.
• The vast majority of South Kingstown has a restore date of Thursday, Nov. 1, 11:59 a.m.
• High Street and North Road in South Kingstown have estimated restore dates of Friday, Nov. 2, 11:59 p.m. This also applies to some customers along Broad Rock Road, Matunuck Schoolhouse Road, Moonstone Beach Road and Leisure Drive, and Kingstown Road / 108 in South Kingstown.

6:48 a.m. – The Rhode Island Department of Transportation has released a series of about 60 aerial photographs of the damage of Sandy, and shoreline photos. To view them, click here. We’ve included them on this gallery as well.

5:45 a.m. - Hi folks! Like I said in my last update on Wednesday, our updates are going to be a lot more infrequent today. Basically, just news tidbits, and I might go back down to Matunuck and some other places, since I've heard the governor and senators will be touring.

If you're still interested, bookmark and check back with this story. Otherwise, it's going to proceed as a "normal" news day here at Narragansett-South Kingstown Patch, just minus Five Things.

However, just like previous days, you can upload your own photos to this gallery. Click the "submit a photo" button! Video should work as well.

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