This emergency declaration gives the Department of Homeland Security and FEMA the green light to get disaster relief efforts underway. The help is deeply needed as many people being affected will need assistance in helping to rebuild their lives once this crisis is finally over. Low cost loans will be made available to homeowners not insured and to business owners who need to make repairs so that they can resume operation.

 Area rivers are overflowing from the runoff resulting from the heavy downpours. It is estimated that a very wide area of the Northeast will experience flooding not seen for more than 100 years. Rivers from New York to Maine are expected to crest later this week after the heavy rains have pounded the coast.

The small state of Rhode Island is being hit especially hard as officials are warning residents to expect the most severe flooding the state has seen in more than 100 years. In Cranston, several city blocks were under water forcing street and business closures. The Pawtuxet River shattered a record by rising to 15 feet.  It hit 17 feet two days later this week and is expected to crest ten feet above flood stage (at 20 feet) any time now.

Businesses of all sizes have been devastated across the widespread area, forcing to close down after rapidly moving, deep water has entered establishments – leaving behind ruined products and inventory. Some small business owners are scrambling to move products up to higher shelves and others are sandbagging their buildings hoping that it will help against the water that is sure to move in.

In Massachusetts and Rhode Island, people who make their living fishing are being hard hit as well.  Shellfish beds were forced to close due to overflowing sewage caused by problems at waste water treatment plants brought on by the flooding.  All eyes are on the weather and hundreds of thousands of people in this part of the country are closely listening and waiting for any word of forced evacuations.