Rhode Island General Laws Title 30. Military Affairs and Defense § 30-2-6. Order of militia into service

(a) In case of martial law, war, invasion, rebellion, insurrection, riot, tumult, public calamity or catastrophe, or other emergency, or imminent danger thereof, or resistance to the laws of this state or the United States, the governor shall order into service, all or any part of the militia that he or she may deem necessary, to serve until the exigencies shall have passed. If the occasion be so sudden that the governor cannot be informed and his or her orders received and executed, the adjutant general may order into service all or any part of the militia, with like powers and authority as are herein conferred on the governor.

(b) In the event of a request for assistance from the state of Rhode Island or an agency thereof, the governor may order into service all or part of the militia that he or she may deem necessary, to serve for the purposes of providing assistance and support for official state functions, or other state activities for training.