Thursday, July 24
Providence transitions from siren system to modern, more comprehensive public alert and warning system
Mayor Brett P. Smiley and Providence Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) Director Clara Decerbo today announced updates to the Providence Public Alert and Warning System, effective September 1, 2025, as part of the City’s broader efforts to modernize operations and ensure effective public safety emergency notifications. This decision follows a comprehensive evaluation of the current public alert and warning system, including the Port Siren System’s condition, coverage area and effectiveness. The modernization of Providence’s emergency alert system underscores the Smiley Administration’s continued commitment to streamline and digitize city services to deliver more effective, accessible and modern city services to residents and local businesses.
“By transitioning to modern, comprehensive emergency alert systems, such as the Wireless Emergency Alert System (WEAS) and CodeRED, we’re not only improving how we reach our neighbors in multiple languages, but we’re also streamlining our operations and moving away from outdated, less effective equipment,” said Mayor Brett Smiley. “Our top priority is to keep our community safe, and this transition allows us to do that more effectively.”
PEMA conducted a review of the City’s public alert and warning system, including the Port of Providence Siren System, to ensure Providence is using the most effective current technology to keep neighbors informed during an emergency. Consistently, feedback has been given that the current Port Siren System is difficult to hear during test activations. Originally installed over 15 years ago, the siren system’s outdated technology now requires significant repairs and upgrades.
After its review and based upon nationally recognized best practices in other communities, PEMA determined that transitioning to the CodeRED and Wireless Emergency Alert System (WEAS) and retiring the Port Siren System will result in more effective, efficient, and comprehensive emergency public alert and warning via the City of Providence’s CodeRED system and the State of Rhode Island’s WEAS system.
“Of all the essential functions of municipal government, none are more fundamental than the need to get critical information to our residents quickly and effectively,” said City Council President Rachel Miller. “It’s not an exaggeration to say that lives depend on our ability to keep people informed. These improvements to our city’s emergency alert notification system will make us all safer and ensure that even on our worst days, the days when it matters most, we will be able to reliably communicate with our residents.”
The following benefits have been identified with the transition to WEAS and CodeRED:
- Alerts through WEAS and CodeRED provide the ability to communicate more detailed instructions during emergencies.
- Both WEAS and CodeRed have the ability to provide alerts and warnings in English and Spanish.
- CodeRED is an opt-in service and requires the public to sign-up. This system issues alerts by phone, email and text about severe weather, utility outages, fires, floods and other emergencies.
- WEAS notifications automatically go to every cell phone within the designated emergency alert area without the public needing to sign up. This ensures visitors and temporary residents receive critical life-saving emergency alerts.
- PEMA also uses the Rhode Island Broadcasters Association (RIBA) to share emergency notifications across television and radio stations.
“The safety of our community remains our top priority,” said PEMA Director Clara Decerbo. “By embracing cutting-edge technology, we are significantly improving our ability to deliver timely multilingual emergency alerts. These improvements to our public alert and warning system will allow us to provide effective, efficient and comprehensive notifications during emergencies to all Providence neighbors and visitors.”
For more information and for details on how to sign up for CodeRED, please visit: providenceri.gov/pema/codered.