McKee breathes sigh of relief as Rhode Island dodges anticipated storm

CRANSTON, R.I. (WLNE) — While Hurricane Lee makes its way up to the coast, Rhode Island is making final preparations for anything this storm could bring.

Breathing a sigh of relief Friday, Gov. Dan McKee said that Lee won’t make landfall in the Ocean State — adding that this isn’t a reason for residents not to be prepared and expect severe weather.

“For us not to be in a situation where we’re going to get a direct hit, or some sort of a real strong hit and a hurricane, this is good news for the people in the state of Rhode Island,” said McKee.

The Rhode Island coastline could see high winds, heavy rain, and possible flooding. This comes after a hectic week of weather: flash flooding, tornados, and high winds.

With more of the same elements on the way, McKee’s message Friday was that they’re prepared. The Emergency Management Agency is working with local communities to recover from flooding and getting ready for this storm.

The Department of Transportation is also clearing the streets to prevent any major flooding.

“Count our blessings. That’s what I would say,” said the Democrat. “Just because we find ourselves in a spot today where it’s not as dramatic as we have had in the past, doesn’t mean that we’re not pleased about that and they should as well.”

McKee reminded residents to check on their neighbors and those living around them.