In recent years, a growing number of stakeholders have been taking part in the generation and delivery of geospatial information and services to reduce the impact of severe natural disasters on the communities. This is mainly due to a huge demand for accurate, current and relevant knowledge about the impacted areas for a wide range of applications in risk-informed decision makings. The aim of this paper is to identify users’ requirements for emergency mapping team (EMT) operations in the Dominican Republic (DR). An online survey was applied to collect data from key users involved in the Inter-Institutional Geospatial Information Team in DR. Our findings suggest a set of users’ requirements for EMT operations: (1) standardization; (2) establishing and maintaining a spatial data infrastructure; (3) partnership; (4) effective communication among stakeholders; and (5) capacity building. A better understanding of the users’ requirements and the associated information workflows will lead to a superior level of readiness for EMT operations in DR. This knowledge will support future studies/practices at the local and national levels in the Caribbean region, which share similar challenges in terms of natural hazards and development issues.

The Ocoa Bay is exposed to the occurrence of seismic events, that generate tsunamis. Tsunamis events that have occurred in the past, such as October 18, 1751 and May 11, 1910, are clear examples of the destructive potential of tsunamigenic events in the study area. In recent years, economic growth in the region has increased as a resulted of hydrocarbon exploration, mining, and tourism activities, among others, which has led to an increase in population, infrastructure for services, transportation, energy, etc. This causes a concentration of exposed assets to the occurrence of a tsunamigenic events with the potential to cause severe damage. Given this scenario, it is essential to identify flood-hazard zones in case of tsunamis occurrences, which can be represented by tsunami flood hazard maps for different return periods, including events which could potentially occur in the study area or in the simulation of an event with exceptional historical characteristics. For the identification of potentially dangerous zones, seismic data were selected for the elaboration of a local seismic hazard model. Based on this model, an earthquake catalogue of the study area was created and the seismic sources generating tsunamis were characterized according to a seismic zonation classification. Likewise, a map of the distributed seismicity of Ocoa Bay was presented considering the geological structures and local tectonics. La Bahía de Ocoa se encuentra expuesta a la ocurrencia de eventos sísmicos generadores de tsunamis, eventos que han ocurrido en el pasado, como el del 18 de octubre de 1751 y el del 11 de mayo de 1910 lo que constituye claros ejemplos del potencial destructivo de los eventos tsunamigénicos que pueden ocurrir en el área de estudio. En años recientes se ha incrementado el crecimiento económico de la región como resultado de la exploración de hidrocarburos, actividad minera, así como la actividad turística, entre otros, lo cual ha ocasionado el aumento de la población y el incremento en la infraestructura de servicios, transporte, energía, etc.; lo cual origina una concentración de activos expuestos a la ocurrencia de un evento tsunamigénico con el potencial de ocasionar daños severos. Ante este escenario, es indispensable la identificación de las zonas de peligro por inundación ante la ocurrencia de tsunamis que potencialmente puedan ocurrir, lo cual es posible representar a partir de mapas de peligro de inundación por tsunami para diferentes periodos de retorno, así como para eventos que potencialmente puedan ocurrir en el área de estudio o ante la simulación de un evento con características históricas excepcionales. Para la identificación de las zonas potencialmente peligrosas se seleccionaron datos sísmicos del área para la elaboración de un modelo de amenaza sísmico local. En base a este modelo se creó un catálogo sísmico de la zona de estudio y se caracterizaron las fuentes sísmicas generadoras de tsunamis. Asimismo, se presentó un mapa de la sismicidad distribuida de Bahía de Ocoa, considerando las estructuras geológicas y la tectónica local.