R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-9-3: Emergency expenditures.

Whenever any extreme climatic phenomena or other unpredictable emergency shall in the considered judgment of the director of transportation, impose upon the department of transportation extraordinary duties relating to maintenance of roads or related matters, not foreseeable by the director at the time of submitting budget estimates for the department, the director may meet such emergencies by employing for the duration of the emergencies additional personnel, and by hiring or otherwise acquiring all necessary appliances and equipment.