Michelle: the most destructive hurricane the island has ever seen

• The nation is ready to confront the consequences of this natural phenomenon • 45% of the country’s territory, home to 53% of the population, is affected

BY ORLANDO ORAMAS LEON (Granma daily staff writer)

"WE are a Revolution with a fighting spirit and not accustomed to bewailing our circumstances," affirmed Carlos Lage Dávila, secretary of the Executive Committee of the Council of Ministers, during a television appearance on November 8 in which he outlined the efforts the nation is making to recover from the damages caused by Hurricane Michelle.

Lage, likewise vice president of the Council of State, explained that – thanks to years of experience with similar disasters – the nation is prepared to face the scars of this natural phenomenon, utilizing the state reserves carefully stored up for circumstances like the ones that have now arisen.

He assured that nobody would be abandoned and nothing would be forgotten. He indicated that not everything would be totally resolved but every problem will be dealt with. He stressed that the housing, schools, production and service centers that were destroyed will be rebuilt, something that will demand work and time, but which we have the resources to accomplish.

He pointed out that Michelle damaged exportable resources such as sugar and citrus fruits, and reconstruction will require spending hard currency which the country will have to raise in the midst of the difficult international economic circumstances, aggravated by the war which is affecting the world and our country, and under a 42-year blockade.

He announced that as soon as the detailed evaluation of the damages is completed, it will be reported to the population; not the slightest detail will be exaggerated or hidden. However, he confirmed that never before has a hurricane wrecked as much economic damage on the country as Michelle.

The hurricane affected eight provinces, from the eastern portion of Pinar del Río to Ciego de Avila. This represents 45% of national territory, which houses 5.899 million people, 53% of the country’s population.

He pointed out that a few days after Michelle’s destructive journey through Cuba, food production and distribution, transportation and distribution systems for gas (with a million users in the capital) are totally reestablished.

The health services are returning to normal. All health facilities will offer full service except for the hospital in Colón, which will offer a partial service; four polyclinics in Matanzas; three psychiatric sanatoriums; 10 family doctor’s offices and 12 pharmacies, whose services will be redistributed to other institutions in the area.

He reported that day schools had begun functioning on Wednesday and Thursday. This includes the elementary schools offering an extended day-care service, but with just one session in the morning. This week all the day schools will be running and starting on Monday, November 12, boarding schools and day-care centers will join them, except in areas where there is no electricity or water, which are indispensable for reestablishing school activities. On Monday, the Mi TV (My TV) Program will also recommence.

Lage stated that 1,500 schools received significant damages and 50 were destroyed or severely damaged. In terms of what resources are assigned to each province, school repairs and rebuilding will be prioritized, while pupils are relocated in other schools on a provisional basis.

Lage explained how the national electricity system was severely affected and was even split into two parts, east and west, given that 125 high-voltage towers joining the two electricity systems collapsed. This has never happened in Cuba before.

The national system was interrupted when the line from the east that passes through Santa Clara and Matanzas was cut. A second line, kept in reserve, also was cut by the collapse of three towers between Matanzas and Cienfuegos. In addition to this, the pump area of the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant was damaged by sea flooding.

Currently, Pinar del Río has 65% of the normal electrical service, Habana province has 50%, Matanzas 27%, Cienfuegos 46%, Villa Clara 65% and Sancti Spíritus 90%, while in Ciego de Avila and the Isle of Youth it has been totally restored, just five days after the hurricane and despite serious damages.

The Guiteras thermoelectric plant will begin to function by Sunday, November 11, at the latest and starting on Monday, conditions will be created to produce electricity for all the other provinces excluding Matanzas, Villa Clara and Cienfuegos, while the circuits are being repaired.

Villa Clara will have its service restored on November 19, and Matanzas and Cienfuegos before the end of the month, that is to say, within less than 30 days, he confirmed.

He indicated that the western electricity service is currently inadequate and at peak time, demand exceeds capacity by 170 megawatts, something which will be resolved when the system is reestablished. One of the two routes will be repaired over the next 30 days, to remedy that very problem.

We are working towards avoiding blackouts during this period, with a serious and strict electricity conservation program, mainly in state-run facilities, to reduce the demand at peak times.

Today, City of Havana has 90% of its water service, the province of Habana, 86%, Matanzas 30%, Cienfuegos 70%, Villa Clara 80%, Isle of Youth 98% and Sancti Spíritus and Ciego de Avila 100%. He stressed that the water service has been restored with the necessary quality requirements, including chlorination in accordance with the country’s health guidelines.

Communications, but not international radio, television and communications networks, have also been particularly affected, he noted. On November 18, a provisional antenna will be installed in Jacán which will be used to reestablish television, radio and communications signals throughout national territory. By that date, a provisional antenna will also be set up in Cienfuegos and another in Santa Cruz del Norte which will reestablish the television service in those areas.

On November 22, the entire country’s radio and telephone communication channels will be restored.

Television reception in Matanzas will increase to 60% over the next few days. The remaining 40% will be provisionally resolved by December 20. These are all provisional dates for the efforts being made.

Television on the Isle of Youth will continue as it is now for three months, with one limited channel and programs from Cubavisión Internacional, while a definitive solution is found.

Lage mentioned that the necessary measures have been taken to maintain the incomes of those whose workplaces have been damaged. He also spoke of the measures for agricultural recovery and the increase planned in the cultivation of garden vegetables, for which preliminary investments have already been made.

In conclusion, we have a country devoted to reconstruction, using its most important resource: the people, whose discipline, solidarity and dedication constitute the best possible guarantees of victory.