Cyclonic season in Cuba: ready and alert.

On June 1st, the cyclonic season began in the tropical Atlantic Ocean region and although moderate activity is expected with at least eleven cyclones, five of which are likely to become hurricanes, it is important to take the appropriate measures and protect oneself from these dangerous events.

Extending until November 30th, the hurricane season continues to represent a call to the population to preventive work and timely information in order to reduce vulnerabilities, protect property and human and material resources, as well as to enhance the timely and rapid attitude to possible disasters and onslaughts caused by these phenomena.

Since 1996, the Institute of Meteorology of Cuba joined the limited number of nations that elaborate their own seasonal forecasts on cyclonic activity, whose scientific value is essential to deepen the knowledge of the oceanic and atmospheric factors that induce the emergence of a greater or lesser number of these phenomena, while offering an approximate vision of the number of tropical systems of interest that could form in our geographic area.

Faced with the imminence of a natural disaster, the National Civil Defense General Staff has a plan of action that includes the Information, Warning and Alarm phases, as well as the Recovery Phase, which are focused on reducing possible effects through specific measures, whose observance must go hand in hand with the protection of health, in times when the COVID-19 and other affections could still harm us.

According to the Family Guide for tropical cyclone protection, the information phase is intended to inform the public about the possibility of the impact of a tropical cyclone and implies the adoption of preventive measures. The alert phase is established when there is a probability of the impact of a cyclone within 48 hours and implies the increase of measures and the evacuation of people living in high-risk areas.

When the imminence of cyclone impact does not exceed 24 hours, we are in the presence of the alarm phase, where the plans are put into practice and finally, the recovery stage. As its name indicates, it is established after the meteorological event leaves the national territory and the necessary rehabilitation work is implemented for the recovery of the affected areas.

In each of these phases, the family must conceive a group of measures for the protection of its members, its goods (including pets and animals) and the family economy in the face of the danger of tropical cyclones and also, in case the house offers security, the possibility of contributing to the protection of other people.

It is therefore pertinent to call for compliance with the guidelines of the Civil Defense of our country and for the population to be properly informed to cushion the onslaught of possible meteorological events of this nature.

Written by Yadiel Barbón Salgado.