PORTSMOUTH — The towns of Portsmouth and Middletown, and the City of Newport, are developing the first ever multi-jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan for Aquidneck Island. 

The regional effort, funded by a Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities Grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), is being conducted by Providence-based consultant Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. (VHB) in conjunction with a Regional Hazard Mitigation Committee consisting of municipal staff, fire and police chiefs, Naval Station Newport liaisons, and community representatives. 

The project will build off existing planning efforts and incorporate new ideas from a variety of stakeholders, including the public.

The Regional Hazard Mitigation Committee has organized a series of three community workshops in the coming weeks to identify the hazards of concern, map out vulnerable areas, and brainstorm mitigation ideas. Each municipality will have a workshop that will focus not only on the hosting community, but the island as a connected region. 

Interested parties are invited to attend any of the following meetings, regardless of municipal affiliation, and/or respond to an online survey. Participants are welcome to drop in or stay for the whole event. There will be additional opportunities to participate throughout the process.

• Portsmouth and island-wide workshop: Thursday, May 30, from 3-5 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers at Portsmouth Town Hall

• Newport and island-wide workshop: Thursday, June 6, from 4-6 p.m. in City Council Chambers, Newport City Hall

• Middletown and island-wide workshop: Thursday, June 20, from 4-6 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers, Middletown Town Hall

The Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan (RHMP) will address issues such as flooding, hurricanes, extreme temperature, and sea level rise, developing short- and long-term actions to reduce the effects of such natural hazards. By examining vulnerable areas, critical infrastructure, and current capabilities, the team will establish priorities for each municipality as well as Aquidneck Island to better protect our communities from future disasters.

All municipalities are required to have a local Hazard Mitigation Plan to qualify for non-emergency funding from FEMA. Adoption of a Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan by Portsmouth, Middletown, and Newport qualifies the municipalities to apply for pre-disaster and post-disaster funding.

For more information on the process or to take the online survey, visit the Aquidneck Island Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan webpage at https://tinyurl.com/rhmp24.