Top disaster response leaders in the Dominican Republic have launched coordinated pre-season readiness initiatives ahead of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, bringing together regional authorities to shore up the nation’s emergency response infrastructure. In a high-stakes strategic gathering held in Santo Domingo, Juan Salas — who serves dual roles as executive director of the Dominican Civil Defense and president of the National Emergency Commission (CNE) — met with all 32 of the organization’s provincial directors to align preparedness protocols and response strategies across every region of the country.
During the meeting, Salas outlined the robust resources the nation has already mobilized to protect communities against potential storm-related hazards. He confirmed that the Dominican Civil Defense currently maintains a network of 2,742 fully operational shelters spread across all 32 provinces, capable of housing tens of thousands of residents displaced by flooding, high winds or other hurricane-related damage. Complementing this physical infrastructure is a large, trained volunteer corps of more than 15,000 local residents, who stand ready to deploy across affected areas to support emergency response, search and rescue, and relief distribution operations when hydrometeorological events strike.
Salas placed heavy emphasis on the critical role of proactive prevention rather than reactive response, noting that community-level readiness is the foundation of successful disaster risk reduction. He issued formal instructions to provincial and local authorities to strengthen collaborative partnerships with local Disaster Prevention, Mitigation, and Response Committees, closing gaps in preparedness at the neighborhood and municipal levels to ensure rapid, coordinated action when a storm threatens.
The meeting also focused on empowering individual citizens to take personal responsibility for their own safety ahead of the season. Salas urged the public to proactively download and use the AlertaDO mobile application, the official emergency reporting tool developed by the Dominican government, to submit real-time reports of developing hazards and active emergencies. He also encouraged all residents to use digital and physical information platforms managed by the Dominican Civil Defense to locate the nearest official shelter to their home well before a storm approaches, eliminating last-minute confusion during emergency evacuations.
Closing the meeting, Salas reaffirmed that consistent preparation, intentional prevention, and strict adherence to official emergency guidance remain the three core pillars of any effective hurricane risk management strategy. By taking these steps well in advance of the 2026 season, the nation aims to cut storm-related casualties, minimize property damage, and protect the lives and livelihoods of Dominican communities across the country.