Wherever in any general or public law, the words "state council of defense", "Rhode Island state council of defense", or "council of defense" shall appear, these words shall mean and include the "Rhode Island emergency management agency" as established by this chapter. The "Rhode Island emergency management agency", renamed by the action of this chapter, is hereby declared to be the successor to the Rhode Island state council of defense. All provisions of law shall, so far as applicable, be so construed.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 30-15-20