Ask the Consul
Prepare Yourself for Hurricane Season
The Dominican Republic lies in an area that is seasonally affected by hurricanes. The hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30. In case of a hurricane, travelers may not be able to depart the area for at least 24-48 hours.
The probability of climatic emergencies en the Dominican Republic makes it particularly important that all American citizens visiting or living in the Dominican Republic register with the U.S. Embassy. You may register through the Department of States travel website at https://travelregistration.state.gov/. Registering with the U.S. Embassy allows us to share important information and announcements via email and helps us contact and/or locate American Citizens in areas affected by a hurricane or other emergency.
You should also prepare for hurricane season by maintaining a stock of bottled water, non-perishable food items, a battery-powered radio, vital identity documents stored in a waterproof container/bag, and prescription medications. U.S. citizens should ensure the family's passports have not expired. Should the situation require an evacuation, the U.S. State Department will work with commercial airlines to assist U.S, citizens to the extent possible. Generally, we are unable to assist Legal Permanent Residents (LPRs). The U.S. Government does not provide free transportation.
While we will make every effort to assist Americans in a crisis, local authorities are primarily responsible for the welfare of people in their jurisdictions. U.S. citizens should monitor local radio, the Embassy website, and other media to stay aware of 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 http://santodomingo.usembassy.gov. Minor storms can develop into hurricanes quickly, limiting the time available for an evacuation. After a hurricane, a great deal of information of interest to U.S. citizens will be posted on our website. Please check the site before calling the Embassy so the Embassy can focus on helping its citizens. If internet access is unavailable, contact someone who can check the site. Further information can be obtained by visiting the National Weather Service website at http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/.