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.