Government evaluates Hurricane Melissa damage to determine possible state of emergency

Santo Domingo.- President Luis Abinader announced on Monday that the government is currently assessing the damage caused by Hurricane Melissa to decide whether declaring a state of emergency will be necessary—a measure that must receive approval from Congress if additional funds are required. The president emphasized that the evaluation is ongoing since the storm’s effects have not yet fully subsided.

Abinader assured that authorities continue to work in the most affected areas, reaffirming the government’s commitment to assisting families impacted by the hurricane, which brought heavy rains, floods, and property losses across much of the country. “As we have done in previous storms, we have never abandoned our people,” he stated.

According to the latest report from the Emergency Operations Center (COE), 3,785 people remain displaced, 737 homes were damaged, and two roads and two bridges were affected. In addition, 38 people remain in shelters and 48 communities are isolated. Hurricane Melissa, the 13th cyclone of the Atlantic season, has already left one fatality in the Dominican Republic, adding to a series of storms that have significantly impacted the region this year.