REBUILDING: DISASTER MITIGATION
From Open Sewers to Footbridges
Simón Bolivar, La Zurza and Capotillo are three densely populated poverty-stricken barrios - home to more than 100,000 people - on the banks of the La Isabela River, a tributary to the Ozama River in Santo Domingo.
These undeveloped communities are highly vulnerable to floods because a large portion of the population settled on the flood plain.
| USAID's focus in disaster mitigation is on improving preparedness and response at the national level and on efforts to reduce vulnerability at the local community level. |
Two consecutive days of rain, very common in tropical islands such as Hispaniola, can flood the area to the extent that families have to abandon their makeshift shacks and meager belongings and move to higher ground.
USAID achieved its goal of helping these three communities form disaster mitigation committees. Almost 2,500 leaders from 82 communities and 69 villages have been trained in community disaster preparedness. Community mitigation plans for the three riverfront barrios were developed, and 40 priority mitigation construction projects were completed.
| USAID funded NGO efforts to stabilize and reduce soil erosion on 6,300 hectares of land through conservation measures included reforestation and improved management plans. By project end, 9,045 hectares of land had improved soil conservation. The U.S. Forest Service helped strengthen the Dominican Forest Service ability to prevent and fight forest fires and helped them to develop the first comprehensive management plan for national forests. |
Based on studies provided by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the community developed mitigation plans to construct escape-route infrastructure (stairways, small footbridges and retaining walls). The Dominican government was so impressed by the project that they contributed $158,000 in additional funds for project expansion.
"It was a very difficult to go up and down the hill, but I need to do it to buy food and water. I used to make the sign of the cross before going up or down the hill. I now go up without a problem."
- Angelica Rodriguez (61), resident of Capotillo
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