Cuba’s Hurricane Preparedness: A Model for Florida and the Gulf Coast?

[Mika]

Cuba’s Hurricane Preparedness: A Model for Florida and the Gulf Coast?
http://www.accuracy.org/release/cubas-hurricane-preparedness-a-model-for-florida-and-the-gulf-coast/

snip ...

“The success of Cuba’s disaster preparation and mitigation strategies shows up in the results: just 35 deaths were caused by the 16 hurricanes and tropical storms that have torn through the island since 2001 — and 17 of those from Hurricane Dennis in 2005, which hit a province usually spared from such weather. Which brings me to another reason why the Cubans are successful: they learn from their mistakes. After Dennis, they studied why people had low risk perception, taking chances that put their lives in danger. On other occasions, they have scrapped old ways of doing things to give people and property better protection.
“Cuba’s experience is interesting because in an economically deprived context, they set the goal of a PUBLIC system that protects 100 percent of their population. That means prioritizing vulnerable people — from those who live along the coastlines, to the elderly, disabled, families in precarious housing, and pregnant women and children.”

[hr]

| | | | |

[dipsydoodle]

1. When I was there in April

I noticed signs at the hotel which purported to be for orderly fire exit. The chances of a fire anywhere where the signs were postitioned was nil and I concluded they were actually for orderly exit in the event of a hurricane. I've heard they can evacuate whole towns within hours to higher ground when felt necessary and am confident that's true.

[niyad]

2. years ago, I read about cuba's emergency preparedness, and still cannot fathom why we do not

do it here. everyone knows where they are supposed to go, medicines are stocked, pets are taken care of, and those in charge can keep track to make sure everyone is safe. plus, they do drills so that people know exactly what they are supposed to do, so it isn't something being done in a panic. .

[Mika]

3. An older OXFAM America report on Cuba's preparedness ...

A review of Cuba's disaster preparedness from OXFAM America - a model for the world.
http://www.oxfamamerica.org/publications/weathering-the-storm

[Judi Lynn]

4. The link points out, near the start, that extreme weather will be increasing, too,

due to climate change. Cuba is so much better prepared already.

I personally have a hard time seeing people in this country agreeing to cooperate with each other, to even seek shelter in the same places with people they despise politically, religiously, racially, culturally, etc.

I also have a hard time imagining some of these beanbags agreeing to leave their ###king guns at home in order to keep from intimidating the people seeking shelter with them.

I would hope they'd lock their asses out.

There are too many dips###s here to believe intelligent cooperation, and spiritual unity could ever happen in this country well enough to make adequate organization possible!

Thanks for offering, at no cost to us, the D.U. Latin America forum readers, the information in your link, Mika!



Gotta admire the people of Cuba: community, respect, intelligence, spirit.