Rhode Island facing $1.4M out-of-state blizzard ’26 cleanup cost

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Rhode Island could face a bill of more than $1.4 million after calling in out-of-state crews to help clear roads following the recent blizzard.

According to state officials, crews and equipment from four states arrived in the days after the storm to help clear roads and manage cleanup operations.

Rhode Island requested the help through an interstate emergency agreement that allows states to share resources during major disasters.

Crews and equipment sent from four states

The assistance included over 100 workers along with plows, trucks, and other equipment used to clear snow and debris after the storm.

Preliminary estimates show the following costs:

• Pennsylvania: $558,512.52
• Connecticut: $385,633.08
• Vermont: $250,226.24
• Maine: $217,517.63

The combined total for the assistance is currently estimated at $1,411,889.47.

Final cost may change

Officials said the numbers are preliminary and could change as final invoices are processed.

Rhode Island is also seeking reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for some of the costs associated with the storm response.

If federal aid is approved, the state may recover a portion of the expenses tied to the cleanup effort.

The historic Blizzard of 2026 has officially rewritten the state’s snowfall record books, burying Rhode Island with 37.9 inches of snow, surpassing the legendary Blizzard of 1978 total of 28.6 inches by almost a half a foot.