A multidisciplinary approach is used to evaluate the vulnerability resulting from extreme rainfall events (EREs) and to examine how institutional capacities related to prevention and response, assist small coastal locations in Latin America in coping with ERE, currently intensified by climate change. The analysis was carried out in Brazil, Dominican Republic and Mexico, at municipality and local scale, based on socio-economic and environmental indicators. Institutional capacity was assessed mainly based on semi-structured interviews, with key actors of selected study sites to obtain empirical information on the level of coordination and cooperation among them (social networks), to examine the effectiveness of the legal framework and the mechanisms for citizen participation in the decision-making process on the local scale. Present findings indicate that vulnerability by site is not directly related to local institutional capacity. The key actors’ networks and legal frameworks by country seemed to be sufficient to cope with ERE impacts, but citizen participation must be reinforced. In addition, public spaces are required for sharing, discussing and exchanging information to take action regarding the prevention, response and adaptation to future ERE impacts.

多学科方法用于评估极端降雨事件（ERE）导致的脆弱性，并检查与预防和应对有关的机构能力如何协助拉丁美洲的小沿海地区应对当前因气候变化而加剧的ERE。该分析是根据社会经济和环境指标在巴西，多米尼加共和国和墨西哥在市政当局和地方一级进行的。机构能力的评估主要基于半结构化访谈，与选定研究地点的主要参与者进行互动，以获取有关它们之间（社会网络）协调与合作水平的经验信息，以检查法律框架和公民机制的有效性参与当地规模的决策过程。目前的发现表明，按地点划分的脆弱性与当地机构的能力没有直接关系。各国的主要行为者网络和法律框架似乎足以应付ERE的影响，但必须加强公民的参与。此外，需要公共场所来共享，讨论和交换信息，以采取有关预防，响应和适应未来ERE影响的行动。