Cuba Emergency Response System 3943457 225529312 2008-07-14T04:21:08Z Rjwilmsi 203434 no 'of' between a month and a year per [[Wikipedia:Manual_of_Style_%28dates_and_numbers%29#Longer_periods|MOS]] using [[Project:AutoWikiBrowser|AWB]] ==Hurricane Dennis and Hurricane Ivan== In July 2005, [[Cuba]] weathered [[Hurricane Dennis]] and in September 2004 [[Hurricane Ivan]] — two of the most powerful storms to strike the Caribbean in the last century.{{Fact|date=August 2007}} In the case of Dennis, just 10 people died amid massive damage to island,<ref>[http://www.palmbeachpost.com/storm/content/storm/2005/atlantic/dennis/news.html#recap Hurricane Dennis: Day-by-day recap<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> while Ivan claimed not a single victim.<ref>[http://www.usatoday.com/weather/hurricane/2004-09-13-hurricane-ivan_x.htm USATODAY.com - Hurricane Ivan drenches western Cuba<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> In both cases, Cuba succeeded in evacuating more than 1.5 million people, emptying out entire flood-prone coastal areas. People were provided buses to pre-arranged shelters staffed with medical personnel and stocked with food and water, as well as to private homes that took in the evacuees.{{Fact|date=August 2007}} ==Cuba's Emergency System== [[Cuba]] is the largest and most populated island in the Caribbean yet is consistently experiences the lowest death tolls during hurricane season.<ref>[http://www.medicc.org/publications/medicc_review/0905/top-story.html Medicc Review<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> According to United Nations, it's not because Cubans are lucky but because they're prepared.<ref>[http://www.medicc.org/resources/documents/medicc-review-disaster-management.pdf medicc-review-disaster-management.indd<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> According to Oxfam, from 1996-2002, only 16 people were killed by the six [[hurricanes]] that struck Cuba.<ref name="OxfamR">[http://www.oxfamamerica.org/newsandpublications/publications/research_reports/art7111.html/OA-Cuba_Weathering_the_Storm-2004.pdf cuba_hur_ch1.qxd<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Cuba has a world-class meteorological institute, with 15 provincial offices. They share data with US scientists and project storm tracks. Around 72 hours before a storm’s predicted landfall, national media issue alerts while civil protection committees check evacuation plans and shelters. Hurricane awareness is taught in schools and there are practice drills for the public before each hurricane season.<ref name="OxfamR" /> State run television and the civil defense authority broadcast to the population with information and instructions about what measures to take. Each residential block has a person assigned to take a census on who is being evacuated to which shelter, with special attention paid to the elderly and pregnant women, and as efforts are organized locally, compliance is increased.<ref name="OxfamR"/> The response system has four stages. In Stage I, which takes place 72 hours before [[Landfall (meteorology)|landfall]], the Civil Defense Structure is placed on an alert, and the media begins broadcasting warnings of the impending storm. At Stage II, 48 hours before the storm, the DCN (National Civil Defense) in each municipality or zone begins to organize hurricane preparation efforts, such as sending students home from schools. Shelters are inspected and supplied, and evacuations begin. Once the hurricane makes landfall, Stage III begins, during which the media continues to provide coverage of the hurricane, and the DCN attempts to maintain lines of communication. After the hurricane has passed, Stage IV begins, and people return to their homes, after they have been certified as sound by the DCN. Rescue operations and tallies of damages begin.<ref name="OxfamR"/> == References == {{Reflist}} == See also == * [[Emergency management]] [[Category:Organizations based in Cuba]]