Developed by URI\u2019s Coastal Resources Center, Rhode Island Sea Grant, the Graduate School of Oceanography, the Environmental Data Center, and the departments of Marine Affairs and Ocean Engineering, these tools were created to help Rhode Island\u2019s emergency managers, partner communities, state agencies, and military better plan for and respond to storms and flooding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve been working together on these projects for 10 years,\u201d says Austin Becker, chair of URI\u2019s Department of Marine Affairs and director of URI\u2019s graduate certificate in Coastal Resilience, \u201cand the collaboration has been truly wonderful.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/2-39.jpg\")
Funding for research and development came from the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Defense, and numerous other sources. In the years since, URI has dedicated significant expertise and resources to develop the powerful suite of tools, which play key roles in addressing coastal storm risks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Rhode Island state funding affirms support in the Ocean State for technology and tools that prepare for weather impact in advance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis is a huge win,\u201d says Becker. \u201cThis will allow us to keep these tools in operation, supporting the climate resilience needs of Rhode Island. It\u2019s gratifying to see the state recognize the value of this work to municipalities and agencies from the Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC) and Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency to the Department of Environmental Management and Department of Health.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/4-25.jpg\")
As federal funding priorities changed, Rhode Island pivoted to maintain support for these critical emergency preparation and management tools, as support from community users demonstrated the value of the tools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The initial bill was sponsored by Rhode Island Rep. Terri Cortvriend (Middletown, Portsmouth), who first came to Rhode Island as a boat captain. She founded a marine plumbing firm here and is familiar with coastal issues as a member of the state\u2019s marine trade association, but says she advocated for the provision out of concern over seeing Rhode Island lose funding for these critical decision support tools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Introducing the measure, Cortvriend asked her peers to join her in supporting Rhode Island\u2019s homegrown coastal resilience technologies. \u201cAs we face increasing risks to our population due to more frequent and severe storms,\u201d she said, \u201cit is imperative that we equip our decision-makers and emergency managers with the tools necessary to mitigate impacts, enhance recovery, and reduce both human suffering and economic losses. These tools provide crucial data and predictions for emergency management, resilience planning, and community engagement across our state.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Stephen McCandless M.S. \u201921, GIS coordinator for the town of Charlestown, said the tools are essential for emergency management, planning, and coastal policy work in Rhode Island.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThese tools have proven indispensable in our ability to manage and prepare for coastal hazards,\u201d he said. \u201cWe rely on them regularly in our operations.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Save The Bay\u2019s Jed Thorp also wrote in support, saying the organization\u2019s mission to protect and improve Narragansett Bay depends on government partners who can deploy such tools to make informed decisions based on sound science.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With this investment from the state, URI will continue to offer these three powerful tools to meet Rhode Island\u2019s critical resilience planning and emergency management needs:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
RI-CHAMP (Coastal Hazards Analysis, Modeling, and Prediction)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"Digital](\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/RICHAMP-Henri-Viz-1024x500-1.jpg\")
An example of the RICHAMP pilot test visualization during TS Henri showing the inundation forecast for the Southern New England coast.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nRI-CHAMP<\/a> lets emergency responders predict damage to vital infrastructure in real time. The modeling system offers early warnings of coastal storm impacts, giving agencies critical time to prepare for hurricanes and nor\u2019easters and can provide storm simulations that help officials plan for the future. The program can create detailed flood models, examining impact to infrastructure, such as electrical transformers and backup generators, or the potential impact to hazardous waste in ports during a hurricane. CHAMP is used by the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management and Emergency Management Agency and has also been utilized by the Department of Health and the Naval Station in Newport. CHAMP has also been utilized by Connecticut and by the Massachusetts Coast Guard to examine storm impact in those regions.<\/p>\n\n\n\nRI-CHAMP computations rely on the URI High Performance Computing UNITY cluster, which has proven indispensable for real-time storm forecasting. The IT Research Computing team led by Gaurav Khanna, director of URI\u2019s Institute for AI and Computational Research, has worked closely with RI-CHAMP scientists to deliver valuable results on time using computational resources built and managed in partnership with the University of Massachusetts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCHAMP delivers accurate, high-resolution predictions of storm surge, wind, and wave impacts,\u201d says Isaac Ginis<\/a> in URI\u2019s Graduate School of Oceanography. \u201cIts capabilities have proven essential to emergency management agencies as they confront increasingly intense storm events.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhile hurricanes often capture the most attention, he notes that nor\u2019easters\u2014cold-season storms known for their high winds and heavy surf\u2014pose a growing threat in New England, straining infrastructure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWith this state investment, CHAMP will remain a critical tool for real-time emergency response and long-term coastal planning,\u201d he says, \u201chelping Rhode Island communities better prepare for future storms.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/coastal-storm.jpg\")
<\/div>Sea Grant\u2019s vital role in advancing Rhode Island\u2019s coastal hazard resilience<\/h2><\/div><\/div>the tools<\/div><\/a><\/div>\n\n\nRI-CHAMP is currently expanding its capabilities to include 24\/7 real-time monitoring of flood and meteorological data in a hyperlocal network of smart flood, wind, and rain sensors at key infrastructure and transportation routes, enhancing its ability to generate accurate, timely alerts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
STORMTOOLS<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nSTORMTOOLS<\/a> provides up-to-date predictions on flooding that could affect commercial and residential sites across the state, providing flood predictions essential for long-term planning. Development of the tool began in 2014 with creation of flooding maps for Washington County and eventually the entire state. A mobile phone app was also developed to allow access to risk estimates for individual structures. In 2020, a STORMTOOLS Hub was established at URI to allow access to state agencies, town planning departments, consulting firms, and citizens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/916\/1-41.jpg\")
Rhode Island Statewide Planning used STORMTOOLS to conduct vulnerability assessments for areas of Warren, Bristol, and Barrington. (STORMTOOLS)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nSTORMTOOLS is also embedded in the CRMC coastal hazard permitting system and used routinely to understand the risks of flooding with consideration for sea level rise. The program is now expanding its reach to include inland areas subject to riverine flooding. It has also been recently extended to allow damage from hurricane winds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSTORMTOOLS is one of the first tools in the nation to provide access to estimates of storm flooding that explicitly include the impact of climate change\u2014sea level rise and enhanced precipitation,\u201d says Malcolm Spaulding, professor emeritus of ocean engineering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
STORMTOOLS is widely used by state agencies for planning and risk assessment, with more than 10,000 users per year. The state has used the program for analysis of vulnerable roadways and other infrastructure. The I-195 Commission relied on its data in increasing the elevation of the Providence River Pedestrian Bridge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
MyCoast: Rhode Island<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
RI-CHAMP<\/a> lets emergency responders predict damage to vital infrastructure in real time. The modeling system offers early warnings of coastal storm impacts, giving agencies critical time to prepare for hurricanes and nor\u2019easters and can provide storm simulations that help officials plan for the future. The program can create detailed flood models, examining impact to infrastructure, such as electrical transformers and backup generators, or the potential impact to hazardous waste in ports during a hurricane. CHAMP is used by the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management and Emergency Management Agency and has also been utilized by the Department of Health and the Naval Station in Newport. CHAMP has also been utilized by Connecticut and by the Massachusetts Coast Guard to examine storm impact in those regions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n RI-CHAMP computations rely on the URI High Performance Computing UNITY cluster, which has proven indispensable for real-time storm forecasting. The IT Research Computing team led by Gaurav Khanna, director of URI\u2019s Institute for AI and Computational Research, has worked closely with RI-CHAMP scientists to deliver valuable results on time using computational resources built and managed in partnership with the University of Massachusetts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCHAMP delivers accurate, high-resolution predictions of storm surge, wind, and wave impacts,\u201d says Isaac Ginis<\/a> in URI\u2019s Graduate School of Oceanography. \u201cIts capabilities have proven essential to emergency management agencies as they confront increasingly intense storm events.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n While hurricanes often capture the most attention, he notes that nor\u2019easters\u2014cold-season storms known for their high winds and heavy surf\u2014pose a growing threat in New England, straining infrastructure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWith this state investment, CHAMP will remain a critical tool for real-time emergency response and long-term coastal planning,\u201d he says, \u201chelping Rhode Island communities better prepare for future storms.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n RI-CHAMP is currently expanding its capabilities to include 24\/7 real-time monitoring of flood and meteorological data in a hyperlocal network of smart flood, wind, and rain sensors at key infrastructure and transportation routes, enhancing its ability to generate accurate, timely alerts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n STORMTOOLS<\/a> provides up-to-date predictions on flooding that could affect commercial and residential sites across the state, providing flood predictions essential for long-term planning. Development of the tool began in 2014 with creation of flooding maps for Washington County and eventually the entire state. A mobile phone app was also developed to allow access to risk estimates for individual structures. In 2020, a STORMTOOLS Hub was established at URI to allow access to state agencies, town planning departments, consulting firms, and citizens.<\/p>\n\n\n STORMTOOLS is also embedded in the CRMC coastal hazard permitting system and used routinely to understand the risks of flooding with consideration for sea level rise. The program is now expanding its reach to include inland areas subject to riverine flooding. It has also been recently extended to allow damage from hurricane winds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSTORMTOOLS is one of the first tools in the nation to provide access to estimates of storm flooding that explicitly include the impact of climate change\u2014sea level rise and enhanced precipitation,\u201d says Malcolm Spaulding, professor emeritus of ocean engineering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n STORMTOOLS is widely used by state agencies for planning and risk assessment, with more than 10,000 users per year. The state has used the program for analysis of vulnerable roadways and other infrastructure. The I-195 Commission relied on its data in increasing the elevation of the Providence River Pedestrian Bridge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>Sea Grant\u2019s vital role in advancing Rhode Island\u2019s coastal hazard resilience<\/h2><\/div><\/div>
STORMTOOLS<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
MyCoast: Rhode Island<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n