The town is presenting a special flood prevention fair and hazard mitigation annual review on Wednesday, March 19, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Peck Center. 

This event, originally scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 20 at the library, will provide valuable insights on how to safeguard your home and the community from flooding and severe weather. 

“Come learn about keeping your basement dry, flood insurance, emergency preparedness, flood-smart landscaping, and more. Find out what the town is doing to manage flood risks and prepare for hurricanes and other hazards,” stated a press release from the town. “This family-friendly event will include pizza, refreshments, and activities for kids, making it a great opportunity to learn and engage with neighbors.”

The evening will kick off with a short presentation by Barrington Resilience Planner Karlo Berger, who will review Barrington’s progress in implementing its Hazard Mitigation & Flood Management Plan. 

A number of state-funded projects are now underway, including a coastal adaption project at Allins’ Cove and a street tree planting project in the Foote Street/Maple Avenue area to reduce the “heat island effect” there.

“Rhode Island has the good fortune of having a deep bench of talent when it comes to understanding flooding and what can be done to reduce its harms,” Berger said. “If you live in Barrington or nearby along the coast, you may very well have questions on your mind about flooding, whether about future hurricanes or about a high water table causing your basement to flood every spring. Whatever flood-related questions you have, the team assembling at our Flood Prevention Fair is determined to get them answered for you.”

Planned speakers

• Certified floodplain manager and architect Ken Filarski will share his expertise to residents on how they can effectively flood-proof their homes.

• State floodplain coordinator Morgan Reilly will help homeowners evaluate whether they should purchase flood insurance.

• Town building official Walter Brueckner will help attendees identify whether they live in a floodplain, and how they can properly upgrade their homes if they do.

• Coastal policy analyst Leah Feldman and coastal geologist Emily Hall from the RI Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC) will answer questions from residents on what changes they can make on their property to protect against coastal flooding.

• Barrington Director of Planning, Building and Resilience Herb Durfee will answer questions about the state’s newly completed Route 114 Resilience Plan that aims to make this transportation corridor less vulnerable to coastal storms and sea level rise.

• Climate scientist and Barrington resident Lynne Carter will be on hand to answer questions on climate change and its impacts on the community.

• Barrington Deputy Emergency Management Agency Director Normand Menard will map out attendees’ emergency evacuation routes and sign those interested up to receive CodeRED alerts.

• Eastern Rhode Island Conservation District Engagement Coordinator Ally Cuomo will share natural landscaping tips for flood prevention.

• The town’s resilience intern Bel Johnson will invite residents to share their knowledge of local flooding incidents as part of an initiative promoting flood resilience and preparedness.