Clean-up crews work to pump out flooding water in Warwick shopping center

WARWICK, R.I. (WLNE) — The parking lot of Shaw’s and Ace Hardware store off of Warwick Avenue is mostly under water.

Most of the parking lot was blocked off from the flooding, as clean-up crews worked all day to pump out the water that has overflowed from the Pawtuxet River.

“Part of the problem is that all of that snow we got melted…turned into a complete disaster, and, all of a sudden, it is 45 degrees outside,” said Matthew Virgilio, owner, Blackstone Septic Service.

For business owners like Virgilio, dealing with clean-up jobs by the Pawtuxet River is not uncommon.

“As far as I know, it has been going on for over 10 years with the river overflowing, with heavy rains and stuff like that,” Virgilio added. “I don’t know what the long-term solution would be, other than do something downstream with that river. I think there is a dam they need to open up.”

Clean-up crews told ABC 6 News they will remain working as long as need be in order to get all of the water out of the parking lot.

This is a picture of the Shaw’s parking lot in Warwick where there was flooding from the Pawtuxet River. (WLNE)

Others were in shock with what they showed up to at work on Wednesday.

“Granted the amount of rain we got last night was a lot, but I did not foresee it to fill up the parking lot this much,” said Sean Praski, manager, Warwick Ace Hardware.

People referred to the year 2010 the last time they saw this much water in Warwick.

“I have lived in this area my whole life – 25 years,” Praski said. “The last time I saw it this flooded was just a couple of months ago when we got all that rain, but, other than that, it was the floods of 2010 [when] we saw this much water.”

In West Warwick, the American Red Cross set up a shelter at the Civic Center for anyone displaced from the flooding.

“What we do here is provide shelter,” said Kathleen Wong, sheltering coordinator, American Red Cross Rhode Island. “There are cots set up inside, so the people can stay overnight.”

“We are working with the West Warwick fire department to make sure people are getting fed,” Wong added. “Lunch will be brought and dinner later on. If they need supplies, since some of them left without being able to grab anything from their homes or apartments, we’ll help them with what they need to get through next day or so.”

There is also a Red Cross shelter set up in Johnston.