Flood victims meet with officials

WEST WARWICK, R.I. (WPRI) - As the floodwaters recede on the Pawtuxet River, West Warwick residents on Wednesday met with state, town and emergency officials to figure out what to do after this week's historic floods.

"It's a difficult situation," said Capt. Richard Ramsay of West Warwick police.

"It's nobody's fault, but we're working very hard to see if we can get this thing straightened out."

Officials and the American Red Cross were on the scene of the flooding all day Wednesday to help residents fill out forms that they said are the first step to getting federal funds to help victims recover.

"It's extremely bad. What are they waiting for? I mean there is money for other places, why isn't there any money fo us?" said Suzie Valetta.

Department of Environmental Management officials have cleaned River Street and side streets in the area, Ramsay said.

All of the homes in the area have been inspected, officials said, but some are still uninhabitable.

"It's extremely bad. What are they waiting for?" asked Suzie Valletta, whose home is one of those that remains uninhabitable. "I mean, there's money for other places, why isn't there any money for us?"

Assessment teams went out Wednesday to inspect businesses in the area. Flooding forced 40 businesses to close, including one belonging to Town Councilor Angelo Padula.

"With the economy this bad, and the unemployment so great, we just put 40 businesses out of business, plus all of their employees," he said.

In Cranston, another area hit hard by flooding, Wellington Avenue remained closed between Avery Road and Elmwood Avenue at noontime Wednesday. Many residents in the Perkins Avenue area in Cranston were left with several feet of water in their basements.