Related videos:
The authorities in Santiago de Cuba launched a series of actions to confront the impacts of Tropical Storm Melissa, which arrives amid power outages, food shortages, and a health crisis.
In a meeting of the Provincial Temporary Work Group this Friday, Beatriz Johnson Urrutia, the first secretary of the Communist Party, emphasized the priority of preserving the lives of people and the assets of the economy.
Experts have warned about soil saturation due to previous rains, the condition of dams and basins, and the influence of a trough that could bring intense rainfall, strong winds, and high waves in the coming days.
According to authorities, the province has 101 risk areas where more than 11,900 residents of Santiago live, and these areas are being visited by work teams to implement preventive measures.
Measures adopted in Santiago de Cuba in response to Storm Melissa
Communications and energy
Location of radio amateurs in areas prone to becoming isolated.
Installation of generators in centers considered of vital importance.
Public Health
Ensuring the supply of oxygen cylinders in hospitals and medical centers.
Evacuation of vulnerable individuals, including nephrotic patients, infants, and pregnant women, in coastal areas or near rivers.
Call for blood donations to strengthen provincial banks.
Community Services
Tree pruning and hygiene work to prevent accidents and blockages.
Santiago Waters
Cleaning of drains and drainage systems in response to the risk of flooding.
Supply and food
Guarantee of supply to markets and social centers.
Maintain the pace of coffee collection, one of the main agricultural products of the area.
Additional sanitary measures
Production and distribution of hypochlorite in pharmacies.
Control of arboviral diseases through adulticidal treatments, pesticide application, and Abate.
Legal and communication measures
Application of the Defense Council Law, which allows for legal proceedings against those who fail to comply with protective measures.
Reinforcement of information to the population through official media and mass organizations.
The government assures that the province "is ready to face the storm," but structural deficiencies, prolonged power outages, and a shortage of basic resources are causing concern among the residents of Santiago.
Many people fear that the instability of the electrical system and the lack of food will worsen the effects of the weather event.
The Civil Defense has urged the population to stay informed and to follow local guidelines, while the Meteorological Institute closely monitors the path of Melissa, which continues to move northwest with potential intensification and could reach Cuban territory on Wednesday as a major hurricane.
Filed under: