Institutions, educational centers, companies, and families can optionally register on the official COE to receive guidance and details about the event.
SANTO DOMINGO . The Emergency Operations Center (COE) will conduct the National Earthquake Evacuation Drill tomorrow, Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. , with the purpose of guiding the population on the protocols and procedures they should follow in the event of an earthquake .
The event will also allow for the first-ever testing of the Cell Broadcast procedure , integrated into the " Alerta RD " system , through which authorities can send emergency messages directly to cell phones located in a specific area.
Likewise, the simulation will aim to evaluate the response capacity of institutions, companies, families and citizens in the event of an earthquake, as well as identify aspects that should be strengthened in emergency and evacuation plans.
In that regard, the execution of the exercise was announced on September 3 at the National Palace by the director of the COE, Erdwin Olivares, along with the Administrative Minister of the Presidency, Andrés Bautista, and Carlos Paulino, representing the Civil Defense.
How to participate in the national drill
Institutions, educational centers, businesses, and families can optionally register on the official COE to receive guidance and details about the event. This process will formalize their participation and provide them with the established recommendations for the exercise.
When the alert is activated, participants must simulate the response to an earthquake, remaining calm and moving away from windows and other potentially hazardous objects. They will also need to identify and use evacuation routes to reach the pre-established safe meeting point.
What is Cell Broadcast?
Cell Broadcast will be a method of disseminating emergency alerts that will allow authorities to send messages simultaneously to cell phones located in a specific geographic area.
Unlike conventional text messages, this technology will be designed to issue mass emergency alerts, accompanied by an alarm sound, with the aim of quickly warning the population of risky situations.
How will Cell Broadcast work?
In order for it to work, mobile phone antennas to simultaneously transmit the alert to connected cell phones within a given area.
One of its main advantages will be that it won't require downloading applications, installing programs, or registering beforehand. Furthermore, it will allow users to geographically define the area where the notification will be sent, so authorities can target the alert to potentially affected communities.
Five drills have been carried out since 2021
The country has reportedly conducted five national earthquake evacuation drills since October 2021, when the first of these exercises took place. The second drill was held in October 2022, and the third on October 25, 2023.
The fourth session was held in October 2024 and the fifth took place on November 5, 2025.These initiatives have sought to strengthen the preparedness of citizens and institutions in the event of an earthquake.
2.8 million participated in 2025
As background, during the Fifth National Earthquake Evacuation Drill, held on November 5, 2025, 2,800,005 people participated, according to COE records .
That amount represented about 26% of the Dominican population, estimated at the time to be 10,773,983 inhabitants by the National Statistics Office (ONE).
The 2025 exercise aimed to strengthen the culture of prevention and allow the population to practice contingency plans, protocols, and evacuation procedures.
“El Huacal” was the scene of the 2025 drill
In 2025, one of the main scenarios was the Juan Pablo Duarte Government Office Building, known as “El Huacal”, where the occupants used the evacuation routes, descended in an orderly fashion down the stairs and moved to the established meeting points.
Preparedness for seismic faults
The former director of the COE, Juan Manuel Méndez García, had described the 2025 drill as successful and stressed that these exercises will be fundamental because earthquakes cannot be predicted.
The Dominican Republic is crossed by several active seismic faults, including the Septentrional Fault, which extends parallel to the north coast from Montecristi to Samaná.
The national drills will seek to strengthen the response capacity of the population and institutions in the event of an earthquake, promoting a culture of prevention and preparedness.
Recommended readings:
- What's happening beneath the Earth? Geologist explains and claims building codes aren't enough to protect against earthquakes
- Is the Dominican Republic prepared for a major earthquake? Expert warns about building vulnerability
- Can a cracked building be saved after an earthquake? An expert explains when a structure is at risk
