CARLOS HERNÁNDEZ CALVO
(Barcelona)
“HURRICANE IRMA, CUBA”
While the international media flooded the world’s screens and newspapers with the preparations being made in the U.S. to protect themselves from the arrival of Hurricane Irma, life went on as normal on the neighboring island of Cuba. The tranquility and security of its population before, during and after Irma’s visit to the island were in stark contrast to the caravans caused by people fleeing Florida in their vehicles. Faced with the every man for himself that could be heard in the US media, Cuba, thanks to its civil defence and neighbourhood solidarity, took it upon itself, in an orderly and calm manner, to mobilise all the people who lived in places of risk to safe places. Regardless of the economic position of its inhabitants, the security guarantees for all its inhabitants were assured, something that could be perfectly seen in the tranquility of the population hours before Irma’s arrival, who were still playing in the parks or walking along the seafront.
