Cuba's Electric Union (UNE) boasted on Tuesday about its readiness for the imminent impact of Tropical Storm Rafael, which is expected to intensify before reaching the national territory and affecting the western region of the country.
The UNE boasted on Facebook that it was prepared to face Rafael, stating that a "contingent of workers from the Electric Company of Ciego de Ávila is already on its way to the western provinces to await the passage of Hurricane Rafael in that territory."
Although the announcement was presented as an achievement, just a few days ago the Cuban regime revealed a lack of preparedness when Hurricane Oscar struck several municipalities in Guantánamo, leaving the population without adequate protection.
In its statement, the UNE indicated that the contingent, "once the storm has passed, will contribute to the recovery of any damaged electric infrastructure."
He also stated that it is tradition for workers in the electric sector to march to the provinces affected by hurricanes in order to restore electrical service as quickly as possible.
However, this practice, while necessary, reflects the chronic lack of foresight in the country's energy infrastructure.
Cuban ruler Miguel Díaz-Canel is aware that he cannot allow the damages from Rafael in the west to cause a similar crisis, especially with less than a month since Hurricane Oscar passed through eastern Cuba.
With the recent memory of the damage and deaths caused by Hurricane Oscar in Guantánamo, and in light of the imminent arrival of Tropical Storm Rafael, which is expected to make landfall in Cuba as a cyclone, the leader assured on Tuesday that the country is "prepared and organized" to face this new threat.
As a result, starting at 5:00 p.m. this Tuesday, the Cuban Civil Defense General Staff decided to implement an alert phase for the provinces of Villa Clara, Cienfuegos, and Sancti Spíritus due to the possibility of being directly affected by Rafael.
For their part, the provinces of Matanzas, Mayabeque, La Habana, Artemisa, Pinar del Río, and the special municipality of Isla de la Juventud have been under alert since this Monday due to the danger posed by the hydrometeorological phenomenon.
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