The Rehoboth
Reporter
SEPTEMBER 2011 Volume 23, no. 9
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Serving the Residents of Rehoboth, Seekonk and Surrounding Communities Since 1989
Irene Hits Rehoboth Hard
see page 49
by Laura Calverley Irene may have been downgraded to a tropical storm before it hit our area, but it still caused considerable damage, especially in Rehoboth where no electricity also means no water for most people. Rehoboth mobilized the Emergency Management Agency, under the direction of Bill Maiorano, on Saturday before the storm hit. At press time on Wednesday evening they still hadn’t stopped. All three fire stations had been manned with firefighters and EMT personnel ahead of time. Police and ambulances were also stationed at both the north and south ends of town in case roads were blocked. After the worst of the storm hit, 14 roads in town were blocked due to fallen trees or power lines and 100 percent of town was without electricity. By Sunday night about 2 percent of town in a small section of the south end, had their power restored. By Monday morning 98% of town was still without power and water. The town began distributing bottled water at the fire stations. Twenty-one pallets, more than 1200 cases of bottled water, were distributed in the first three days. They were also filling containers with water for pets and livestock and for flushing toilets. The town office was closed Monday through Wednesday and possibly longer. The public safety building became the headquarters for town officials handling the after effects of the storm. continued on page 4...
This was a familiar site on many roads in Rehoboth.