Charlestown voluntary evacuation

This morning, the Charlestown Town Council declared a state of emergency, but as of 4:30 PM has only ordered the mandatory evacuation of waterfront properties. The Town Council has called for a voluntary evacuation of households who live south of Route 1A. Read the 4:30 PM notice here. Charlestown evacuees are directed to go to the Westerly Senior Center on State Street not Charlestown Elementary.

Our neighboring towns have ordered far more extensive mandatory evacuations (Westerly South Kingstown and Narragansett). The Westerly Sun reports the potential of up to a 16 foot storm surge (other sources are reporting eight).

Governor Chafee has declared a state of emergency for RI. RIDEM is closing state beaches and campgrounds. National Grid is moving in additional crews.

I don't understand Charlestown's comparatively docile approach to this storm. Check Google Earth and you'll see that an eight foot surge would take the ocean well beyond the beachfront. A 16 foot surge would flood about 2/3's of the land south of Route One. Route One at the Hitching Post is only 12 feet above sea level. Memo to Dan Slattery: this kind of wind really is dangerous to your health.


To get you in the mood of what a hurricane worst case scenario, here's some WPA footage of the Great Hurricane of 1938.