Lucila Velásquez

Lucila Velásquez is a Dominican sociologist and graduate student in Latin American Studies at the University of Arizona. Her research focuses on disaster risk, climate change, and community-based knowledge systems in the Caribbean. She has experience working on community-based projects related to development and innovation in the Dominican Republic. Her current work examines how vulnerable urban communities interpret and respond to flood risk, with a focus on informational vulnerability and climate adaptation. She will continue her training in the Resilience Practice Professional Science Master’s program, focusing on advancing community-informed approaches to disaster risk management.

Living with Flood Risk: Community Knowledge and Climate Adaptation in Santo Domingo Este

Urban flooding is a recurrent challenge in Santo Domingo Este, Dominican Republic, where heavy rainfall and tropical storms frequently impact communities located near rivers and drainage channels. While institutional early warning systems provide important information, residents often rely on their own knowledge and experiences to anticipate and respond to flooding.

This project examines how communities interpret and use flood risk information in everyday contexts. Working with residents, community leaders, and local authorities, I will conduct interviews, a focus group, and participant observation to understand how different forms of knowledge shape responses to flooding.

By focusing on how people access and use information in practice, this project highlights the importance of community knowledge in shaping climate adaptation. The findings will inform more effective and community-informed approaches to risk communication and will be shared through a research brief with participating communities and stakeholders.