Hurricane and Disaster Preparedness

Please note: The Department of State assumes no responsibility or liability for the professional ability or reputation of, or the quality of services provided by, the entities or individuals whose names appear on the following lists. Inclusion on this list is in no way an endorsement by the Department or the U.S. government. Names are listed alphabetically, and the order in which they appear has no other significance. The information on the list is provided directly by the local service providers; the Department is not in a position to vouch for such information.

Prepare Yourself for Hurricane Season

Like the rest of the Caribbean, the Dominican Republic is a hurricane-prone country.  The hurricane season runs from June , with the peak season from mid-August to late October.

A hurricane is a low pressure system that generally forms in the tropics accompanied by heavy winds.  Hurricanes can cause catastrophic damage to coastlines and several hundred miles inland.  Winds can exceed 155 miles per hour.  Hurricanes and tropical storms can also spawn tornadoes and microbursts, create storm surges along the coast, and cause flooding and extensive damage from heavy rainfall.  To learn more about hurricanes, visit the NOAA website.

The National Hurricane Center monitors tropical storms in the Caribbean.  You can quickly check on current hurricane conditions here.

Be Prepared

Minor storms can develop into hurricanes quickly.  U.S. citizens living in the Dominican Republic should prepare in advance for hurricanes by maintaining a stock of bottled water, non-perishable food items, a battery-powered radio, vital documents (e.g., passport), and prescription medications.

U.S. citizens should monitor local radio and other media to stay aware of any weather developments in their area.  In the event of a hurricane alert, the U.S. Embassy will post a notice on its web page at https://do.usembassy.gov/.  Updated travel information may also be obtained from the Department of State by calling 1-888-407-4747 or 1-202-501-4444.

Following are some web links to help you monitor the latest weather conditions:

Local links:

Other Sites: