Today, Saturday, November 8, 2025, the Dominican Republic is in the post-disaster recovery phase following Hurricane Melissa (historic Category 5) which struck between October 28 and 31.
There are no active cyclones in the Atlantic and no immediate threats of organized torrential rains (NHC, November 8, 2025).
The sky is partly cloudy with isolated showers in the north and east, but no weather alerts are currently in effect.
Temperatures: 23–31 °C (Santo Domingo), high humidity, and moderate breezes
Immediate Impacts (October 28 – November 1)
Medium-Term Consequences (Today, November 8)
Children’s Emergency: UNICEF reports that 62,000 Dominican children need urgent assistance (total Caribbean: 900,000). Schools closed in 7 provinces; 15 schools with destroyed roofs. Risk of dengue fever due to stagnant water.
GDP 2025: -0.3% estimated by Melissa (Central Bank).
The Dajabón binational market reopened today, but with 30% less volume due to damage in Haiti.
Tourism: Hotel occupancy fell 25%; Punta Cana and Puerto Plata report cancellations through December.
Public Health: Increase in leptospirosis and diarrhea in flooded neighborhoods (Los Ríos, La Ciénaga). Hospitals using generators due to power outages.
Energy and Water: 120,000 customers still experiencing intermittent service interruptions. CAASD repaired 14 aqueducts, but 8 neighborhoods remain without service.
Melissa was “the hurricane that didn’t make landfall but still caused destruction”: its outer bands dumped 300–500 mm in 72 hours, equivalent to three months of rain. Climate change increased its intensity by 10 mph (World Weather Attribution).
Structural vulnerability: 46% of schools and 30% of homes cannot withstand Category 3+ storms. The country loses 0.9% of its annual GDP in infrastructure alone due to climate events (CNCCMDL).
Positive response:
The Emergency Operations Center (COE) preemptively evacuated 8,000 people.
A plane carrying 4 tons of Dominican aid departed for Cuba today.
The border market will reopen in five days.
Immediate recommendations:
Donate to UNICEF-RD (62,000 school kits are still needed).
Clean gutters and mosquito nets to prevent outbreaks. Support farmers with fast-growing seeds (MIDEREC).
Book hotels in affected areas with solidarity discounts.
The Dominican Republic demonstrated resilience: in 7 days it went from apocalyptic floods to open markets and aid planes. But the message is clear: without urgent investment in dikes, reinforced roofs, and reforestation, the next Hurricane Melissa will be worse.
