The Rhode Island Flood Recovery Fund

Helping Rhode Islanders in crisis

Did You Know?

As a result of the March 2010 flood crisis:

• Approx. 26,000 registered for FEMA assistance
• Approx. 7,000 requested non-FEMA assistance
• Approx. 3,000 were out of work
• Approx. 2,000 were displaced from their homes

Investing in Our Community

The flood of 2010 will be remembered, along with the blizzard of 1978 and the 1938 hurricane, as one of the worst weather disasters in the history of our state. We know that the waters have receded; however, we also know there are literally hundreds of people who will need years to fully recover.

The Rhode Island Flood Recovery Fund (RIFRF) was established to provide financial assistance to those affected by the flood. Resources made available by FEMA, private insurance and other primary disaster resources were accessed first. Afterwards, the RIFRF funds were used to address unmet needs, i.e., those needs that were not addressed by other forms of assistance.

The Rhode Island Flood Recovery Fund Committee, a committee of community leaders, is guiding the distribution of money. The Reverend Dr. Donald Anderson, Executive Minister of the Rhode Island State Council of Churches, is the chair of this committee. Rhode Island VOAD (Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters), the organization coordinating disaster relief efforts in Rhode Island, is working with community agencies and volunteers to help address the unmet needs of people affected by the flood.

Impacting Our Community

• As a result of the March 2010 flood crisis:
  • United Way 2-1-1 in Rhode Island handled 33,000 calls in 30 days.
  • Staff and volunteers called back more than 15,000 people to check on their status and to see if more help was needed.
  • United Way 2-1-1 in Rhode Island is also helping with ongoing efforts to assist people affected by the flood, including working with disaster relief volunteers and long-term recovery efforts.
• United Way of Rhode Island headquarters was “hub” for local and national partners who responded to crisis (needs, assessment and clean up)
• More than $860,000 was donated to the RIFRF.
• During the immediate aftermath of the flood, funds were used to support community-based organizations (such as community action agencies) who were working with people affected by the flood. Money from the RIFRF was used to replace personal items that were lost as a direct result of the flood such as food, shelter, clothes, and household items, as well as provide utility assistance and rental assistance.
• More than $300,000 was used for these purposes.
• United Way of Rhode Island and United Way 2-1-1 in Rhode Island staff are members of Long-Term Recovery Committee, established by FEMA and the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency.
• The balance of the RIFRF is being used to support the long-term recovery of the people affected by the flood such as the restoration of their homes, the costs of which were not covered by other forms of assistance.