Santo Domingo.— President Luis Abinader ordered the suspension of teaching nationwide and ordered the stoppage of work—this Friday—in The 12 provinces that the Emergency Operations Center (COE) maintains on red alert due to the passage of Storm Melissa. In addition, he instructed that the National Treasury and the Comptroller’s Office remain open to meet month-end financial commitments.
The decision was made after an hour-long meeting in the Green Room of the National Palace, in which Vice President Raquel Peña and members of the Mitigation, Preparedness and Response Council participated, among others.
Government measures
- Education: Classes are suspended nationwide for Friday, October 24, as agreed with the Ministry of Education.
- Labor: The Ministries of Labor and Public Administration will issue resolutions to regulate labor operations during the emergency situation.
- Financial sector: The National Treasury and the Comptroller’s Office will open to manage month-end commitments. Banking entities are recommended to consider the difficulties of transferring their staff before applying labor sanctions.
- Essential services: Pharmacies, supermarkets, fuel stations and public transportation will maintain operations to guarantee access to food, medicine and basic services.
Current alerts
The COE extended the red alert to the provinces:
Barahona, San Cristóbal, Santo Domingo, National District, San José de Ocoa, San Juan, Azua, Peravia, Pedernales, La Romana, San Pedro de Macoris and Mount Silver.
It remains yellow alert for: Hato Mayor, El Seibo, Samaná, Monseñor Nouel, Sánchez Ramírez, La Altagracia, Elías Piña, Independencia, Dajabón, Puerto Plata, Espaillat, La Vega, María Trinidad Sánchez, Santiago and Duarte. In addition, Monte Cristi has a yellow alert due to the controlled filling of the Tavera dam; Low areas such as Los Verdes and Castañuela are monitored.
The authorities stressed that the Ordered evacuations are mandatory in the demarcations on red and yellow alert, and called on the population to comply with the instructions of Civil Protection.
Risks and recommendations
Due to soils already saturated by previous rains, any additional precipitation can generate surface runoff and flash flooding. The COE and Indomet maintain constant surveillance on the evolution of the meteorological system.
It is recommended to the population:
- Avoid crossing rivers, streams and ravines with high flow.
- Do not approach the coast to observe the waves.
- Maintain basic reserves of food and medicine.
- Follow official updates through institutional media and channels.
For emergencies, the lines enabled are 911 and the COE: 809-472-0909. The director of the COE also provided a direct service number for questions: 809-773-4447and asked for responsible use of that line.
Management status
The Government will remain in permanent session to monitor the trajectory and impacts of the storm, which is moving very slowly. The authorities urged citizen collaboration to minimize risks and protect lives and property.
Out of caution and safety, the priority now is prevention: follow evacuation orders, stay informed and act responsibly.
