Two financially-strapped Rhode Island cities have agreed to merge their emergency management agencies, The Associated Press reported yesterday. Pawtucket and Central Falls announced that they signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a two-year, cost-sharing pilot program. Pawtucket’s mayor said that it will improve response time, training and services. The merged agencies would be responsible for daily operations, disaster planning and emergency operations. There won't be any layoffs as a result but it's too soon to say how much money the merger will save because the cities are waiting for authorization and funding from the state. The mayors asked the state to stage equipment in Pawtucket for emergencies in northern Rhode Island.
