The Common Fence Point Preparedness Committee (CFPPC), a volunteer group of neighbors, formed in July 2019 with the vision that Common Fence Point is prepared for and resilient to acute hazards such as flooding from intense storms and extreme tides as well as impacts of long-term climate change such as sea level rise.
Common Fence Point, in Portsmouth, RI, is a longtime beach cottage community, at the tip of Aquidneck Island, surrounded on three sides by Narragansett Bay. When town leaders expressed concern about how this neighborhood’s safety and homes could be impacted by flooding tied to strong storms and sea level rise, URI CRC, RI Sea Grant, and the Narragansett Bay Research Reserve, stepped up to help. The team works with the community on an education effort to build people’s knowledge of basic science concerning sea level rise and storm action and engage them in preparedness planning so Common Fence Point can proactively choose actions for protecting itself. The community is excited about taking the reins to protect their neighbors during a disaster and make informed decisions about their future. It’s an honor to be able to help them with this process.
Since the initial 2019 community forum to identify concerns, understand strengths and weaknesses, and identify priority actions, the community has met monthly to implement key actions that help them to be more prepared and resilient to storms and flooding.
To date, the CFPPC and its community members have embarked on prioritizing issues, visualizing impacts, coordinating with key officials, and sharing information with residents. Community forums on hurricanes and rising seas, building a preparedness kit, winter snow safety, or shoreline erosion have provided an understanding of their risks and ways to reduce their vulnerability. A number of projects have since been implemented. With grant funds provided by the RI Coastal Resources Management Council, community volunteers gathered to plant native grasses and shrubs along the shore. The coastal buffer restoration pilot, in collaboration with Save the Bay, helps to stabilize the shoreline while reducing runoff pollution to the bay. In cooperation with Portsmouth Emergency Management, community members were trained on post-disaster damage assessment and contributed to a Portsmouth-wide effort aimed at providing every neighborhood with a Neighborhood Disaster Preparedness, Response & Recovery Operating Guide. Essentials such as whistles, flashlights, and COVID 19 home tests filled preparedness kits put together with and for residents, along with key information brochures such as evacuation, family communications planning, and ways to protect their homes.
Support from Rhode Island Sea Grant, the Prince Charitable Trusts, and the van Beuren Charitable Foundation has since helped to build leadership to plan and implement this community initiative.
What is the Preparedness Committee all about? Executive Summary | Brochure
- Connecting CFP community members and responding to their needs
- Sharing pertinent information and resources
- Promoting activities that enhance preparedness and resilience to hazards threatening the community, including those resulting from long-term climate change
- Coordinating with the town, state, and other stakeholders
What kind of activities does the Preparedness Committee do?
- Supporting priorities identified by community Issues and Opportunity Matrix
- Promoting Preparedness activities. America’s Prepareathon
- Educational Forums:
How can I get involved? Attend a CFPPC meeting- first Wednesday of each month, 6:30-7:30 pm, CFP Hall
How do I contact the CFFPC? Send an email to cfp-prep@commonfencepoint.org
What kind of things does the Preparedness Committee do?
Changing Climate and Its Impacts-Dave Vallee Presentation
Visualizing Change-Peter Stempel’s presentation
Are you Prepared?
Know Your Risk
Review flood maps at FEMA Flood Maps or STORMTOOLS to see the potential for flooding in your community.
Make A Plan
Ensure all members of your household- including children, elderly, and individuals with disabilities know how to reach each other and where to meet up in an emergency. Visit Ready.gov for tips creating a communications plan.
Be Ready
Take a short survey at Are You Ready? To then receive occasional informational text message to be better prepared in the face of an emergency.
Take Action
Sign up for Portsmouth CodeRED emergency notifications at Portsmouth CodeRED. Receive alerts in emergencies, such as evacuation notices, bio-terrorism alerts, boil-water notices and missing child reports.