Local News

Town Hall, Public Works and the Transfer Station will be closed on Monday, September 6th for Labor Day. All will reopen regular hours on Tuesday the 7th. Have a safe and happy holiday!

Make sure you're fully prepared before the next hurricane arrives.

Town Hall, Public Works and the Transfer Station will be closed on Monday, August 9th for Victory Day. All offices will reopen regular hours on Tuesday the 10th. Have a safe holiday!

Please note that the Design Review Board Meeting has been canceled and will be rescheduled at a later date.

Clarification of Open Meeting Regulations

Town Hall, Public Works and the Transfer Station will be closed on Monday, July 5th for Independence Day. All offices will reopen regular hours on Tuesday the 6th. Have a safe and happy holiday!

Town Hall will reopen on June 14, 2021, which allows our employees to become fully vaccinated. Thank you for your patience as we strive to keep your government working and our employees healthy.

The Portsmouth Emergency Operations Center (EOC) mobilized for Hurricane Henry on Friday was demobilized at 4:00 PM August 22, 2021

Public assistance required to accumulate damage reports. Please send any and all damage reports (Trees down, damage to services, road obstructions, etc.) to: damageassessment@portsmouthri.com [mailto:damageassessments@portsmouthri.com] ( Corrected email) Anyone from the public sector should include address or description of location of damage, and their point of contact information, as well as assessment of any immediate safety concerns. Prefer emails. However, for urgent matters the phone number to the desk is 401) 643-0444 or police dispatch 683-0300.

Linden Ln (entrance to the Gardner Seveney Sports Complex) in Portsmouth is closed due to a fallen tree limb. The limb will be cleared when the wind subsides.

Portsmouth, RI Public Information Release Hurricane Henri 8/21/2021 - 4:00 PM The National Weather Service has stated that Narraganset Bay is one of the most vulnerable storm surge areas in New England from Hurricane Henri. With the storm tracking to our west, we may not experience Hurricane Winds, but we are located on the most dangerous side of the storm where the greatest storm surge is likely. The shape of our bay can cause water to pile up in areas such as Island Park and Common Fence Point. Dangerous, life threatening storm surge is expected to begin late tonight and result in 3-5 feet of inundation above ground level. Our high tides will occur at 8:00 AM and 8:30 PM on Sunday. Tropical storm winds (39 – 73 MPH winds) are expected to reach or area at approximately 10:00 AM on Sunday and continue until about 3:00 AM on Monday. Winds in this period are expected to be about 60 MPH maximum with the present track. However, should the hurricane track shift to the east winds could reach hurricane category one levels. Heavy Rainfall of 1-3 inches may lead to considerable flash, urban, and small stream flooding. Residents in low lying areas should consider finding shelter elsewhere. The Aquidneck Island Red Cross Shelter at Gaudete Middle School, 260 Turner Road, will be open at 8:00 PM this evening. Also, the Portsmouth Emergency Operations Center (EOC) was activated at 2:00 PM today, and is available to answer any questions. All emergencies or life threatening damage reports should be reported via our 911 system. All non-emergency related assistance may be directed to the Portsmouth EOC at (401) 643-0350. All local damage reports that are not immediately life threatening may be made to (401) 643-0444, but due to potential volume of reports an email report is preferred at DamageAssessment@portsmouthri.com. Reports should include the street address of the damage, point of contact information on person reporting, and a brief description and if available photograph of damage to building or public infrastructure. No one should in any way place themselves in potential danger or enter a damaged structure. Be cautious of downed power lines and damaged gas systems. National Grid anticipates power outages for 28% of its RI customers, and restoration of power to residents could take two to three days. Please remain safe, prepare now, and chose to get out of harm’s way before it arrives. Stay clear of beaches and other shorelines. We are not anticipating an evacuation declaration at this time, but that could change should storm predictions change. Also, emergency services may be delayed at the height of the storm.

The Portsmouth EOC was activated at 2:00 pm, on August 21, 2021 and will remain staffed throughout the Henri weather event and commencement as needed of damage assessment operations, loss of utilities recovery, and debris removal from roads. All emergencies or life threatening damage reports should be reported via our 911 system. Portsmouth Fire Department general questions call (401) 683-1200 Portsmouth Police Department general questions call (401) 683-0300 All non-emergency hurricane related assistance may be directed to the Portsmouth EOC at (401) 643-0350. All local hurricane related damage reports that are not immediately life threatening may be made to (401) 643-0444, but due to potential volume of reports an email report is preferred at damageassessment@portsmouthri.com [mailto:damageassessment@portsmouthri.com] . Reports should include the street address of the damage, point of contact information on person reporting, and a brief description and if available photograph of damage to building or public infrastructure.

A public workshop will be held October 7th from 6-8 pm to engage the community in development of the town’s Climate Resilience Planning & Financing Strategy. Participate in person at the Portsmouth Town Council Chambers or virtually via Zoom!

Portsmouth's Special Referendum is 11/02/2021. Details about mail ballots, emergency voting, military & overseas voters, election day voting, & full details on ballot questions are found by clicking the link! Call 401-683-3157 with voting questions.

Details are provided so you can attend the Master Plan Presentation - in person or via Zoom - as well as the proposal by Church Community Housing for the new Portsmouth Senior Center and affordable senior housing.

Are you wondering if you need or should get a COVID-19 vaccine booster? We have news for you!

View roads to be paved starting 7/26 through 8/26.

View roads to be paved starting 7/26 through 8/26.

Preliminary Hearing scheduled 8/12/2021 at 1 PM

The Town of Portsmouth is currently accepting applications for an Information Systems Manager.

The Town of Portsmouth is currently accepting applications for a part-time Transfer Station Gate Attendant.

The Aquidneck Stone Wall Initiative is seeking volunteers to train in the art of dry stone walling.

Regarding Portable LNG Vaporization Project , Old Mill Lane, Portsmouth, RI, EFSB Application

The Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency (RIEMA) is closely monitoring the path of Tropical Storm Elsa and its potential impact on the state. RIEMA receives updates four times a day from the National Weather Service (NWS) in Norton, MA. We then pass along the information to local emergency...