She wants to go back, buy a house, and invest. But every time she opens her phone, the algorithm shows her flooded streets and neighborhoods, cars and misery floating by. How do you make a decision when your dream is drenched in doubt?
SANTO DOMINGO – Yesterday, Sunday, Brenda Rodríguez left her home in New Jersey early, coffee in one hand and her cell phone in the other. Despite the 9-degree temperature, she enjoyed the sight of the trees displaying their coppery and golden autumn colors as she headed to the station. She took the Northeast Corridor Line (NEC) train to New York Penn Station, and along the way, the cool air slightly fogged the windows.
On his phone, between videos, he watched images of torrential rains in Santo Domingo flash by. “It’s pouring there again,” he thought, adjusting his light coat and scrolling through the screen. The algorithm repeated images from two weeks ago, showing Tropical Storm Melissa, and from last week’s downpours caused by a trough: water pouring through doorways, cars stranded—some floating—neighborhoods transformed into lakes.
“It doesn’t matter anymore if the neighborhood is upper, middle, or lower class. One day you walk through a downpour without a problem, and the next you find a river running through the middle of the houses with just a few drops of rain.” The train keeps moving, but her decision to buy a house seems stalled by reasonable doubts: Buy a house in a country that floods? Invest amidst all this uncertainty?
He also watches videos of people “enjoying” the flooded streets as if they were swimming pools. “ They’re crazy,” he thinks, and his memory drifts back to his childhood, when he and his friends would rush out to find pipes and play in the pouring rain. But nostalgia doesn’t quell the unease he feels about the viral nature of TikTok and Instagram.
“Oh God! What if it’s not a good idea to buy it?” she thinks aloud.
Decision-oriented
For months, Brenda has been reading the guides published by El Inmobiliario on how to safely buy a house in the Dominican Republic. She's made lists, called agents, and now her dream of returning has been put on hold.
Tropical Storm Melissa, which left more than 16 critical areas flooded in the National District, has changed his mindset, and now, every time he opens social media, he's bombarded with doubts. "You can't see the sewers, that doesn't win votes," he mutters as the train glides toward Manhattan.
“City councils carry out operations when it rains, but there's no planning. Why does 27th Street and Kennedy Avenue flood so often? Why does the Estrella Sadhalá neighborhood in Santiago de los Caballeros keep collapsing? If I'm going to invest, I want to know my house won't float away. I don't want to buy promises; I want to buy certainty«.
Brenda gets off the train at Penn Station with the same gesture one uses to dismiss doubts: resolute, but still thoughtful. She walks through the shopping mall and enters Paper Source. Among notebooks of every color, she chooses a hardcover one, without embellishments, and on the first page writes: “Coming back isn’t just about buying. It’s about choosing with memory, with facts, and with love for what I want to build.” A notification pops up: it’s been raining in Santo Domingo since last night.
She flips through her notebook, reviewing the names of neighborhoods she's considered: Los Prados, Cienfuegos, the University area, Serrallés, Los Ríos, Verón. Unwilling to buy into uncertainty, she begins searching for certainty, and her anxiety is not exaggerated. According to reports from the Emergency Operations Center (COE) and national media, the areas most vulnerable to urban flooding include major avenues due to drainage deficiencies, exacerbated by solid waste dumped in the streets.
Brenda notes in her notebook to consult the criteria to continue with her search.
Water that exposes misery
In late October 2025, Tropical Storm Melissa unleashed its fury across the country, causing the storm drain system to collapse and resulting in urban flooding, with dozens of homes and properties affected, according to reports from the Emergency Operations Center (COE), in addition to millions of dollars in losses.
And it's not an isolated incident. Rains like Melissa's or any tropical wave occur throughout the year, exposing the vulnerabilities that persist in many urban areas. "I want to invest, but I don't want my house to flood or my car to get stuck in the parking lot," says Brenda, as if she were talking to someone.
Brenda's story encapsulates the dilemma faced by thousands of Dominicans, both those in the diaspora and local residents. But migrants also receive enticing videos and tempting offers for new real estate projects, many in beautiful areas, though little known to those living far away.
“ You see the pretty pictures, but nobody tells you if the land floods ,” she says. So, rather than get discouraged, Brenda decided to do her research. And that's how this practical guide to buying with a cool head (even if the country is underwater) came about.
Guide to buying a house without losing sleep:
1. Consult risk maps.
The COE (Emergency Operations Center) and the National Institute of Hydraulic Resources (INDRHI) publish maps marking areas prone to flooding and landslides. Before deciding, ask the seller or the city council to show you the type of zone the land is in.
2. Avoid areas near rivers and ravines.
It seems obvious, but many projects are built right on old riverbeds or low-lying areas. If the listing mentions "river view," interpret that as "yellow alert."
3. Check the altitude and drainage.
In cities like Santo Domingo or Santiago, a small difference in elevation can be decisive. Opt for higher areas or projects with modern stormwater drainage systems.
4. Ask the neighbors
. No source is more reliable. "Does this place flood?" usually gets honest answers. You can also search on social media for the name of the neighborhood plus the word "flood."
5. Visit (or request a video) during the rainy season.
If you're away, ask a family member or the agent to record the location and surrounding area on a rainy day. If you see puddles that look like lagoons, you already have your answer.
6. Check public works projects.
Local councils and the Ministry of Public Works announce drainage and sanitation projects. An area where canalization projects are underway or planned is usually safer.
7. Consider insurance and clauses in the contract.
Ask for a clause that allows you to cancel if an undisclosed risk of flooding is discovered, and inquire about insurance against natural disasters. Because protecting your dream is also part of building it.
And what will Brenda do now?
Brenda puts the notebook in her purse. It was 11:00 in the morning and her cousin told her that it had stopped raining in Santo Domingo, but that Doña Gloria Ceballos, from Indomet, said it would continue to rain.
She smiles peacefully, and thinking about the approaching cold winter, she begins to dream again of returning. For now, she will continue saving and researching.
“I want to buy, but with the facts in hand ,” he told himself. “I wouldn’t want my dream to be drowned by the first storm. Returning isn’t just an act of nostalgia, but also an informed decision .”
