Civil Defense drill begins in Cuba (Hurricane prep)

[Mika]

Proof that Brownie wasn't doing a heck of a job..


Civil Defense drill begins in Cuba
http://www.cadenagramonte.cubaweb.cu/english/news/may_06/190506_02.asp

Havana, May 19.- Because of the substantial material damage caused by sea flooding and hurricanes in Cuba over the last few years, the Cuban government is holding an exercise to train the population to be prepared for the hurricane season.

This week end, May 20-21, the Civil Defense 'Meteoro 2006' exercise will take place in Havana, where everyone is expected to get involved.

Defense Councils in all 15 municipalities will monitor disaster reduction plans for the upcoming hurricane season, beginning in June.

The exercise will pin point problem areas and prepare plans to prevent human and material loses. It will also strengthen measures to face flooding in coastal and low areas, caused by heavy rains and collapsed buildings.

With purpose of reducing vulnerability in each risk site, the authorities will supervise the function of civil defense headquarters in each municipality and ensure transport, shelters, food, evacuation, and other tasks.

Based on a study of the serious damage caused in the island by the passing of hurricanes Lili(2002), Isidoro(2002), Charley(2004), Ivan(2004), Dennis(2005) and Wilma(2005), preventive measures have been enhanced to be able to face and recover from such natural disasters.

For a little background on Cuba's preparedness planning..


Oxfam America: DISASTER PLANNING ESSENTIAL FOR MINIMIZING RISKS

http://www.oxfamamerica.org/whatwedo/emergencies/asian_floods_2004/background/cubalessons

Oxfam America recently studied the experience of Cuba in its development of disaster prevention and mitigation programs. Situated in the Caribbean Sea, Cuba frequently stands in the way of serious hurricanes. While its neighbors are battered, losing lives and property, Cuba is unusually good at withstanding these calamities, and suffers much fewer dead.
Oxfam’s report, entitled Weathering the Storm: Lessons in Risk Reduction in Cuba cites a number of attributes of Cuba’s risk reduction program that can be applied by other countries. Three in particular are transferable to Asia and other regions:
* Disaster Preparedness: Cuba was especially good at mobilizing entire communities to develop their own disaster preparations. This involves mapping out vulnerable areas of the community, creating emergency plans, and actually simulating emergencies so people can practice evacuations and other measures designed to save lives. When disaster strikes, people know what to do.
* Commitment of Resources: Cuba’s strong central government prioritizes resources for its civil defense department. This helps the country to build up a common understanding of the importance of saving lives, and the citizens trust that their contributions to the government are well used for this purpose. Their collaboration on developing emergency plans helped build confidence in the government, so people trust in the plan they helped develop.
* Communications: The communications system for emergencies in Cuba builds on local resources. Using local radio stations and other media to issue warnings on potential hazards also reinforces the disaster preparations. Since the local population is already involved in mapping risks and creating emergency plans, they are more inclined to act on emergency bulletins. Good communications, packaged simply, and built on existing, commonly used resources, is another way to build trust in disaster preparations.
Cuba is a unique example. There is a strong central government committed to protecting all its citizens, even the poorest and most isolated who are typically the most at risk. The most common natural disaster in Cuba is a hurricane, a threat visible for days and even weeks in advance. Yet building a culture of disaster preparedness, and involving local communities in mitigating risks, are strategies that can be applied in many other places, regardless of how rich or poor a country might be.

[dipsydoodle]

1. Good to know

that at least one country can get their priorities right.

[Mika]

2. Cubaphobes think that Castro forces Cubans to do this.

Because everyone knows that people have to be forced to protect their family's well-being.

[NorthernSpy]

3. People LIKE being left to drown! Who are you to deny them this Freedom?

:sarcasm:

Seriously, the YOYO worldview ("You're On Your Own") doesn't make people "freer". It just gets them killed for no good reason.

We could adopt Cuba's approach to civil defense without making much of a change in the way that other aspects of our society are organized. But first, we'll have to decide how much we really value the lives of our fellow citizens.

We have the resources to get people out of harm's way -- whenever, wherever. This is primarily a question of values.