Gov. Dan McKee announced that Rhode Island’s travel ban would be lifted at noon Tuesday after a historic blizzard that struck the state earlier in the week. The governor emphasized safety as the primary criterion for ending the restriction while also noting the need to reopen businesses and restart local commerce. State police reported 269 disabled vehicles and 20 crashes during the storm, and more than 40 tickets were issued for travel-ban violations. Officials warned that power restoration and full cleanup will take time in heavily impacted communities.
Key Takeaways
- Governor Dan McKee lifted the statewide travel ban at noon on Tuesday, citing safety and economic concerns.
- Rhode Island State Police responded to 269 disabled vehicles and 20 crashes during the blizzard.
- More than 40 citations were issued to drivers who remained on the roads in violation of the ban.
- The governor activated the Rhode Island National Guard to assist with warming centers, checks on disabled vehicles and community support.
- Rhode Island requested mutual aid for heavy equipment including payloaders, heavy-duty plows and backhoes.
- Rhode Island Energy deployed over 400 crews and 1,400 personnel; officials said some outages may take up to 72 hours or longer to restore.
- Officials directed residents with housing needs to https://housing.ri.gov and advised those without transport to contact local public safety departments for shelter transport.
Background
Rhode Island was hit by one of the region’s most intense winter storms this season, prompting state leaders to impose a travel ban to keep roads clear for emergency and snow-removal operations. Travel restrictions are a standard response in severe storms to reduce crashes, allow plow crews to work efficiently, and protect stranded motorists. The state’s emergency apparatus—state police, Department of Transportation, utilities and the National Guard—coordinated large-scale response and recovery activities over multiple days. Local governments and social-service agencies also mobilized warming centers and shelters to support residents facing power outages or unsafe home conditions.
Historically, travel bans in Rhode Island have been used during major snow events to reduce emergency calls and speed recovery. The decision to lift such a ban typically balances road conditions, the capacity of public works crews, and public-safety data such as disabled vehicles and crash counts. In this case, the administration said assessments of road clearance and responder availability informed the timing. Mutual aid agreements with neighboring states can supply heavy equipment and personnel when local resources are exceeded.
Main Event
On Tuesday morning, Gov. McKee announced the ban would end at noon, saying the move followed multi-level safety evaluations and assessments of cleanup progress. He framed the decision as both a public-safety judgment and an economic consideration, stressing the importance of allowing businesses to reopen when conditions permit. State police briefings released during and after the storm detailed 269 disabled vehicles and 20 crashes, figures officials used to monitor ongoing road hazards.
The Rhode Island National Guard was activated to support response efforts, with Maj. Gen. Andrew Chevalier describing Guard duties that included checking warming centers and inspecting disabled vehicles for occupants. Municipal crews and state crews continued to clear primary and secondary arteries while mutual-aid equipment was being coordinated for neighborhoods with persistent drifts and blocked access. Rhode Island Energy reported deploying more than 400 crews and 1,400 personnel statewide to assess and repair damage to the distribution system.
Officials caution that while main roads and critical routes are passable, side streets and residential areas may remain difficult to navigate for some time. Power restoration timelines vary by neighborhood; authorities estimate some customers may remain without electricity for up to 72 hours or longer depending on damage and access. The administration reiterated guidance that anyone needing shelter should consult the state housing portal or contact local public safety officials for transport assistance.
Analysis & Implications
Lifting a travel ban is a tactical decision that signals a transition from immediate emergency containment to recovery operations. Reopening roads helps restore commerce, supply chains and essential services, but it also shifts responsibility to drivers to exercise caution on untreated or partially cleared routes. The administration’s emphasis on both safety and reopening underscores the trade-off officials face between minimizing risk and reducing economic disruption.
The activation of the National Guard and the request for mutual aid reflect the storm’s scale relative to local resources. Bringing in payloaders, heavy-duty plows and backhoes accelerates snow removal from critical municipal corridors and enables utility crews to reach damaged infrastructure. However, heavy equipment and repair crews require safe access; lingering drifts and icy patches can delay progress and extend outage windows for some customers.
Power-restoration estimates of up to 72 hours are consistent with complex winter-storm damage where downed lines, tree damage and inaccessible roads compound repair time. Households without power face increased risk, particularly vulnerable populations who depend on electrically powered medical equipment. State coordination with social-service providers and the National Guard to run warming centers and wellness checks aims to mitigate those public-health risks during the restoration window.
Comparison & Data
| Metric | Count / Estimate |
|---|---|
| Disabled vehicles (State Police) | 269 |
| Crashes (State Police) | 20 |
| Traffic-ban citations | 40+ |
| Crews deployed (Rhode Island Energy) | 400+ |
| Personnel (Rhode Island Energy) | 1,400 |
| Estimated restoration time (some areas) | Up to 72 hours or longer |
The table above aggregates official counts released by state agencies and the utility. Those figures show the immediate operational demands facing first responders and utility crews. Comparing these numbers to past large storms, the disabled-vehicle count is a key indicator of road hazard and resource strain; local emergency planners use such metrics to prioritize routes and allocate equipment and personnel. The citation count indicates enforcement efforts to deter nonessential travel during the ban.
Reactions & Quotes
State leaders and agency heads framed the lift as cautious and conditional, emphasizing continued public vigilance.
“The decision’s made on multiple levels, but it’s mainly on safety,”
Gov. Dan McKee
McKee also noted the need to allow commerce to resume once it is safe, describing his background as a small-business owner as part of his rationale for reopening when feasible.
“They have gone out to different warming centers checking on them. They’ve also gone and checked on throughout different communities any disabled vehicle to make sure there was no people in them,”
Maj. Gen. Andrew Chevalier, Adjutant General
Maj. Gen. Chevalier outlined the Guard’s operational tasks, emphasizing welfare checks and support for local responders as cleanup continues. State police statements further documented operational metrics that guided the administration’s timeline and enforcement actions.
Unconfirmed
- Any specific neighborhood-level timelines for power restoration beyond the general 72-hour estimate have not been confirmed publicly.
- Exact numbers of mutual-aid vehicles and heavy equipment en route from other states were not disclosed at the time of the briefing.
Bottom Line
Rhode Island’s noon lift of the travel ban signals that statewide road and safety assessments met officials’ thresholds to begin broader recovery operations. Key hazards remain: disabled vehicles, localized outages and uncleared side streets will continue to challenge crews over the coming days. Residents should assume limited service in some areas and follow guidance from local public safety and utility providers.
Officials emphasize that the transition from emergency restrictions to recovery requires caution from the public: avoid nonessential travel, heed local closure notices, and use state resources such as the housing portal or local public-safety contacts if shelter or transport is needed. The next 72 hours will be critical for restoring power and reopening normal routines in the hardest-hit communities.
Sources
- TurnTo10 / NBC 10 (local news report)
- Rhode Island Office of Housing (state housing resource, official)
- Rhode Island Energy (utility company statements)
- Rhode Island State Police (official agency statements)