A Rhode Island state of emergency is a formal declaration by the Governor, issued under Rhode Island General Laws § 30-15-9, that unlocks temporary powers to respond to a disaster or serious threat to public welfare. Once declared, the Governor can order evacuations, close roads, suspend normal procurement rules, restrict certain sales, and call out the National Guard. The declaration lasts up to 30 days unless renewed, and the General Assembly can end it sooner by concurrent resolution.1Rhode Island General Assembly. Rhode Island Code 30-15-9 – Governor’s Responsibilities Relating to Disaster Emergencies
The Current Declaration
On February 22, 2026, Governor Daniel McKee declared a disaster emergency through Executive Order 26-02 after the National Weather Service issued a blizzard warning covering the entire state.2Governor’s Office, State of Rhode Island. Executive Order 26-02
Earlier, on October 28, 2025, the Governor signed Executive Order 25-02 declaring an emergency over federal funding shortfalls that threatened the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.3Governor’s Office, State of Rhode Island. Executive Order 25-02 That order allowed the state to deploy up to $6 million in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families funding to roughly 20,000 eligible families and direct $200,000 to the Rhode Island Community Food Bank.4Governor’s Office, State of Rhode Island. Governor McKee Acts to Support Rhode Islanders Facing Food Insecurity The emergency authority covers more than hurricanes and snowstorms. Any event that threatens life, property, or the environment on a scale that overwhelms normal government operations can qualify.
What the Governor Can Order During an Emergency
A declared emergency gives the Governor tools that are off the table in normal times. They are limited in scope and duration to what is reasonably necessary for the response.1Rhode Island General Assembly. Rhode Island Code 30-15-9 – Governor’s Responsibilities Relating to Disaster Emergencies
- Suspend procedural regulations that would slow the response, including competitive bidding rules for emergency supplies.
- Commandeer private property needed for the response, subject to compensation under § 30-15-11.
- Reassign state employees to emergency duties and temporarily reorganize state departments.
- Order mandatory evacuations and dictate routes, transportation methods, and destinations.
- Control who may enter high-risk zones, how people move within them, and whether buildings may be occupied.
- Suspend or restrict the sale and transport of alcohol, firearms, explosives, and combustible materials.
- Call the National Guard to state active duty.
Public Health Powers
When the emergency involves an infectious disease or other public health threat, § 30-15-9(e)(16) lets the state require individuals to undergo medical examination or testing. The examination must be performed by someone authorized by the Department of Health and cannot be reasonably likely to cause serious harm.1Rhode Island General Assembly. Rhode Island Code 30-15-9 – Governor’s Responsibilities Relating to Disaster Emergencies If someone refuses testing and may have been exposed to an infectious disease, the Department of Health can place that person in isolation or quarantine.
What a Declaration Means for You
The most visible effect is on movement. The Governor can impose curfews, close roads, bar entry to dangerous areas, and order you to evacuate. These restrictions are temporary and enforceable only while the declaration remains active. If you’re told to evacuate, the state can specify exactly which routes to take and where to go.
The state can also stand up temporary emergency shelters during an active declaration, whether the trigger is flooding, a blizzard, or a chemical spill. Displaced residents can be directed to those shelters as part of the response.
Price Gouging Is Illegal Once an Emergency Is Declared
Two overlapping statutes prohibit charging unconscionably high prices for essential goods during a declared emergency. Section 30-15-9(e)(12) bars retail price increases immediately before or during a declaration.1Rhode Island General Assembly. Rhode Island Code 30-15-9 – Governor’s Responsibilities Relating to Disaster Emergencies Section 6-13-21 goes further, classifying price gouging on essential commodities as an unfair sales practice. Penalties can reach $1,000 per violation, up to $25,000 in any 24-hour period, plus court orders to disgorge profits and pay litigation costs.5Rhode Island General Assembly. Rhode Island Code 6-13-21 – Price Gouging – Essential Commodities If a gas station or grocery store sharply raises prices during a declared emergency, that behavior is illegal and the penalties are enforceable.
Local Declarations Are Different
Not every emergency involves the Governor. Under § 30-15-13, the principal executive officer of any Rhode Island city or town can declare a local disaster emergency.6Rhode Island General Assembly. Rhode Island Code 30-15-13 – Local Disaster Emergencies A mayor or town administrator might use this for a localized flood, a building collapse, or a water main failure. Local declarations give municipal leaders authority to coordinate their own response without waiting for the state. If the situation grows beyond what the municipality can handle, a local declaration can support a request for state-level assistance.
How a Declaration Ends
A Rhode Island state of emergency ends in one of three ways. Most often, the Governor issues a new executive order or proclamation terminating the declaration once conditions have improved. That termination must explain what steps the state is taking to manage any remaining issues and what the public should do going forward.1Rhode Island General Assembly. Rhode Island Code 30-15-9 – Governor’s Responsibilities Relating to Disaster Emergencies
If the Governor doesn’t act, the declaration expires automatically after 30 days. The Governor can renew it, but each renewal restarts the 30-day clock, which creates a recurring check on executive authority.
The General Assembly can also terminate any state of disaster emergency at any time by concurrent resolution. That legislative override applies even if the Governor disagrees.
Penalties for Violating Emergency Orders
Section 30-15-21 provides criminal penalties for violating orders issued during a declared emergency. Ignoring an evacuation order, entering a restricted area, or defying another emergency directive can land you in criminal court. Price gouging penalties apply on top of any general penalties under the Emergency Management Act. Law enforcement tends to take violations seriously during an active emergency, particularly when evacuations or restricted zones are involved.