Rhode Island Emergency Management Act

The act establishes a statewide framework for preparing for, responding to, and recovering from disasters and other emergencies, placing administration with a state emergency management agency headed by a director responsible for a comprehensive emergency management plan and related statewide programs, advised by an emergency management council, and vesting the governor with general emergency powers. It authorizes political subdivisions to establish local and joint local emergency management organizations, and provides for mutual aid and interlocal agreements, acceptance of outside aid and funding, dedicated disaster response and hazard mitigation accounts, and the use of existing public services, facilities, and personnel during an emergency. It also governs liability arising from emergency work, granting immunity to participating governments, their employees, and covered volunteers, and creates an administrative claims and compensation system, including compensation boards, that generally serves as the exclusive remedy for injury or death suffered in emergency management activities.

Editorial summary generated from the text of this act. It is not part of the statute — read the sections below for the operative language.