Dominican Republic Flood Mitigation Project

Background

Esfuerzo de Paraiso is a semi-urban community outside of Santo Domingo, consisting of approximately 70 to 80 households with four to seven family members each. The community is separated from the surrounding neighborhood of Paraiso by a flood plain and a steep hill, and is bordered by both a small drainage canal and a small river.

Seasonal rains flooded the full extent of this field, with water rising to 6 to 8 feet deep in some areas. This prevented residents from leaving the community, cutting off children from school and adults from work.

Response

EWB at Ohio State planned to alleviate flooding and provide a long-term solution for Esfuerzo de Paraiso. After conducting a hydraulic analysis during the assessment phase, the team determined that the scope of the required intervention was too large for a student organization to execute safely and effectively. The chapter made the decision to discontinue the program.