Havana, November 6 (RHC) -- Cuba is on alert today for the imminent arrival of Hurricane Rafael on the western territory of the island, with maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour.
The National Defense Council was activated the day before, and the president of that body, Miguel Díaz-Canel, checked the measures taken by the groups that comprise it: Food, Energy, Transportation, Construction, Health, among others.
That day, the Council of Ministers, headed by the President of the Republic, and led by Prime Minister Manuel Marrero, verified with each of the provinces on Hurricane Alert the measures taken to face the scourge of the meteor.
At the meeting, Marrero called on governments at all levels, institutions and the population not to be complacent in the face of the expected scourge of Rafael on the island.
He called on governments at all levels, institutions and the population not to be complacent: It is better to take measures too much than to fall short of the situation, said the head of government.
During the meeting, the highest government authorities of Pinar del Río, Artemisa, Isla de la Juventud, Havana, Mayabeque and Matanzas (west), specified, through videoconference, the work being done to confront the hydrometeorological phenomenon.
The General Staff of the Civil Defense (DC) decided to establish this Tuesday the Cyclone Alert Phase also for the provinces of Villa Clara, Cienfuegos and Sancti Spíritus (center), impacted by the rainfall associated with Rafael.
He also advised the population to stay informed through national, provincial, and municipal media, official social media profiles, and to comply with the instructions of local authorities and the DC.
Likewise, the head of the Operations department of that body, Argenis Perales, speaking on the television program Mesa Redonda, assured that the protection of the population is prioritized, for which the Defense Councils were activated at all levels.
The rescue and rescue detachments are prepared, as well as the damage assessment commissions, and the compliance with the planned measures is verified by the heads of Civil Defense and the authorities of the threatened territories, he said.
Communication with the population is also consolidated through all possible means, including personal contact in the event of a power outage, he said.
Among other measures, he mentioned the clarification of disaster risk reduction plans, the adoption of measures with electronic groups that provide service in places vital to the population, the harvesting of products, and special work in low-lying areas and with vulnerable people. (Source: Prensa Latina)