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Distrito Nacional hurricane guide

The Distrito Nacional is the capital city, Santo Domingo, governed by the Ayuntamiento del Distrito Nacional (ADN). Defensa Civil's Distrito Nacional office is your local emergency contact. In heavy rain, the Ozama River and the city's ravines (cañadas) can flood, and steep hillside neighborhoods can slide. The Centro de Operaciones de Emergencias (COE) issues alerts by province, so follow its announcements for each storm.

Checked on October 3, 2026

Every phone number and web address on this page was checked against official sources on that date. Details can change, especially during a storm. Always follow instructions from Defensa Civil, oficina provincial del Distrito Nacional. In a life threatening emergency, call 911 where the 9-1-1 system covers your area. If your area is not covered, use the local emergency numbers on this page.

What to know in Distrito Nacional

  • During Hurricane Melissa in October 2025, the COE reported that the Ozama River overflowed and flooded the Simón Bolívar sector. Two CAASD water systems went out of service, leaving parts of the Distrito Nacional without water.
  • During Tropical Storm Franklin in August 2023, the Dominican Red Cross moved 31 families from El Aguacate, in La Puya de Arroyo Hondo, to stay with friends and family because of landslide risk.

Emergency and information numbers

Service Number Notes
Emergency 911 Police, fire, and ambulance. Call only when someone's life or property is in danger. The 9-1-1 system is added municipality by municipality, so if a call does not connect, call the local numbers below.
Defensa Civil provincial office 829-961-5802 Defensa Civil, Distrito Nacional office, Calle Oscar Santana esquina 25 #82 (Club Agrocudegua), Gualey.
Fire department 809-682-2000 Cuerpo de Bomberos del Distrito Nacional. In an emergency, call 911 first.
City government main office 809-535-1181 Ayuntamiento del Distrito Nacional (ADN), Avenida Jiménez Moya. Office line. Not for emergencies.

Official alerts and information

  • Ayuntamiento del Distrito Nacional: The city government's official website, with its list of emergency contacts. Website.

Evacuation centers

Open only when announced

Evacuation centers open only when officials announce them, and not every center opens for every storm. Check the official list of open centers before you leave home. Bring your own bedding, food, water, and medicines.

Defensa Civil's national inventory of validated shelters, published in 2020, lists 37 shelters in the Distrito Nacional. Defensa Civil links it from its website as the Listado Nacional de Albergues. It is a planning list, not a list of open shelters. A shelter is open only when officials announce it, so follow COE and Defensa Civil announcements, or call the provincial Defensa Civil office, before you go.

Official list of open evacuation centers

Power, water and debris

  • EDESUR (electricity): Serves the Distrito Nacional west of Avenida Máximo Gómez. Report a power outage or downed line. Call center open 24 hours a day, every day. Assume every downed line is live and stay far away. Phone: 809-683-9393. Website.
  • EDEESTE (electricity): Serves the Distrito Nacional east of Avenida Máximo Gómez. Report a power outage or downed line by phone or online. Assume every downed line is live and stay far away. Phone: 809-596-1099. Website.
  • CAASD (water and sewer): The Corporación del Acueducto y Alcantarillado de Santo Domingo supplies water and sewer service in Santo Domingo. Main line. Phone: 809-562-3500. Website.

Sources

Checked on October 3, 2026. If a number or address here is wrong, please tell us at Keith@KMyers.me.