Every year, the Dominican Republic suffers from floods and other natural events, often with catastrophic consequences for the people, their property and public infrastructure.

Therefore, the aim of the project was to improve the existing early warning system of the Dominican Republic and to develop new solutions, also using new technologies, in order to warn the population effectively and specifically. The project was carried out in close cooperation with the Instituto Dominicano de Desarrollo Integral (IDDI) on site and the Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). After an analysis of previous warning procedures and the actors involved, strategies for an effective dissemination of warnings will be developed. A dialogue with responsible authorities, information service providers and citizens was established through several missions on site.

Due to its experience with the population warning system KATWARN, Fraunhofer FOKUS can contribute its many years of expertise in the distribution of warning messages. The project investigated the technical requirements in the Dominican Republic and develop a demonstrator for an early warning system adapted to local conditions.