WEEK 16: FINAL

‘It Was Like a Turbine’: Havana Residents React to Deadly Tornado


Cuba has experienced several natural disasters throughout its existence. These natural disasters are nothing out of the ordinary for them. The article states, "Cuba, like most of the Caribbean, is one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world, regularly hit by natural hazards." These families pictured above have children with no shelter because of the horrific damage of a hurricane. Most of Cuba's natural disasters are either hurricanes or tropical storms. In 2017 Cuba was hit by Hurricane Irma. Weather outlets recorded winds of up to 250km/h. In the span of the Hurricane, it caused 10 casualties and more than 14,000 homes being destroyed, such as the picture shown above. Many families are left to fend for themselves. Their lives completely flipped in a matter of days. I could not imagine how difficult it must be to keep on rebuilding and losing repeatedly. These Hurricanes occur because of the positioning of Cuba, its location is prone to natural disasters. These climactic changes happening throughout the world have affected Cuba significantly and not in a positive way. With climate change on a high, these natural disasters become more brutal and dangerous. I chose this country at the beginning of the semester because I knew third-world countries could not afford to keep up with all these natural events. I also believe that small countries such as Cuba do not receive enough aid or attention, Cuba needs to be seen to grow as a whole country. 

As I've stated in my past blogs/discussions I believe the most helpful form of mitigation is awareness. Many people do not know how to prepare or what to do even in the event of a natural disaster. This is why I say that awareness is the best form of mitigation, if people know how to go about certain disasters they could do things differently and possibly even save lives. I think Cuban schools should teach students how to prepare for disaster because they could also share with their families ways to be safe. They could also hold a big town meeting to help address the ongoing problems. If Cubans work together, there is a lot they could do. I also believe a giant shelter home would help because it shows that the country cares for its citizens. This could be a big shelter with everyday needs inside of it such as "outdoor areas", kitchens, games, and more. 

I would like to help the citizens by the coast first because they are the communities that will have the most damage due to their proximity to the ocean. They would be the first victims so I would try to target to help them first. I would like to build them a house on their land. I think is important to respect the people and let them stay on their piece of land if they choose to. Being displaced may be very stressful and an overall chaotic process. 

I would construct my house on a medium-sized hill, not too tall or short just so I would be more secure on the highest hill. I would make sure my house is built with the right technology to help my house be as indestructible as possible. I would hire the most advanced engineers to construct my house to prevent damage. I would also build a bunker with plenty of everyday food to last a while. I would have my house prepared for any and every possible situation. It is important to think about the future since the planet is changing. I would build my house to withstand the most dangerous natural event in Cuba which is Hurricanes for them. I would also like to build houses for the community so they wouldn't have to reconstruct after every event. 


Sources Cited: 
https://civil-protection-humanitarian-aid.ec.europa.eu/news-stories/stories/lessons-disasters-cuba_en 
https://havanatimes.org/features/active-hurricane-season-highlights-cubas-vulnerabilities/ 

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