THE CUBAN EXPERIENCE IN THE REDUCTION OF DAMAGE PRODUCED BY NATURAL DISASTERS PROF GUSTAVO KOURI M.D. PhD.DrSc. DIRECTOR GENERAL INSTITUTE OF TROPICAL MEDICINE “PEDRO KOURI” IPK. HAVANA CUBA

Civil Defense IS THE CUBAN OFFICIAL ORGANIAZATION RESPONSIBLE OF PROTECTING THE POPULATION AND ALL THE ECONOMICAL AND NATURAL RESOURSES OF THE COMMUNITY DURING NATURAL DISASTERS

CIVIL DEFENSE ORGANIZATION IN CUBA PRESIDENT STATE COUNCIL PROVINCES MINISTRIES FIRST VP STATE COUNCIL HQCD MUNICIPALITIES Económical ENTITIES COMMUNITY COUNSEL SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS

SOCIAL FACTORS THAT DECREASES THE VULNERABILITY OF THE CUBAN COMMUNITY UNIVERSAL AND FREE ACCES TO HEALTH SERVICES,TO EDUCATION AND SOCIAL SECURITY. POLICY TO DIMINISH INEQUITIES IINVESTMENTS IN INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT OF THE CULTURAL LEVEL TO INCREASE THE GENERAL KNOWLEDGE CONSTANT IMPROVEMENT OF OUR POLITICAL SOCIAL AND ECONOMICAL ORGANIZATION FOCUSED TO INCREASE COOPERATION AND SOLIDARITY

NATURAL DESASTERS HURRICANES EARTHQUAKES FLOODS FOREST FIRES

IN THE LAST 154 YEARS 152 HURRICANES AFFECTED CUBA

Hurricane Michelle (4 de noviembre del 2001) H. Michelle, INTENSITY 4 (ZS), FIRST HURRICANE OF BIG INTENSITY THAT AFFECTECD CUBA IN THE PRESENT CENTURY PREVIOUS ONE WITH THIS INTENSITY WAS H.Fox 24/X/1952.

Hurricane Isidore (20 de septiembre del 2002) 10 monthes after Michelle, Cuba was affected by hurricane Isidore.

Hurricane Lilli (1 de octubre del 2002) only 11 days after Isidore, we were affected by hurricane Lilli.

TWO HURRICANES IN 11 DAYS WITH THE SAME TRAYECTORY- 2002

TWO INTENSIVE HURRICANES AFFECTED THE WESTERN PART OF CUBA LAST TIME THIS HAPPENED WAS IN 1948 Charley Iván AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER 2004:

HURRICANES IN CUBA YEAR 2005 Afected by 5 hurricanes and two floodings produced by intensive rains, not linked to hurricanes 17 deaths - mainly accidents individuals evaquated houses affected (repaired with strong support of the goverment) Economical damage estimated in more than 2000 millions USD

DAMAGE REDUCTION OF NATURAL DISASTERS

Alarm phase Alert phase Information phase Early Alert EACH PHASE CORRESPONDS WITH SPECIFIC PROTECTIVE MESURES PREVIOUSLY STABLISHED ACCORDING TO THE RISK FACTORS STEP BY STEP PHASES

Efectivity of preventive mesures adopted before disasters PREVENTIVE MESURES Strengthening of surveillance Reduction of vulnerability of the electroenergetic system Risk factors studies Prepardness Permanent updating of the plans to reduce the damage of natural disasters TRAINNING OF THE POPULATION AND ALL THE SOCIETY (METEORO TRAINNING ONCE A YEAR)

STRENGTHENING OF THE SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM TECHNOLOGICAL IMPROVEMENT (equipment, softwares, etc) IMPROVEMENT OF INFORMATION STRENGTHTENING OF THE RELATIONS WITH THE DECISION MAKERS Institute of Meteorology, National Center for Climatic studies National Center for Sismological Research.

Total International exchange 1 3 Regional exchange 1 11 NETWORK OF METEOROLICAL STATIONS

SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM CIVIL DEFENSE Authorities Community councils Social organizations Population Economical entities EARLY ALERT SYSTEM

INTEGRITY OF THE SYSTEM TRANSPORTATION CARE OF EVACUATED INDIVIDUALS MEDICAL SERVICES THE MEDIA SURVEILLANCE AND PROGNOSIS COOPERATION OF THE ARMY HEAD QUARTER COMMUNICATIONS RESOURCES FOR REHABILITATION

EVACUATION OF THE POPULATION Previous studies are updated about the population that must be evacuated in each region and according to the type and intensity of the desaster as well as the priorities. Evacuation Centers are previously prepared and certified. Excellent and comprehensive attention to evacuated people In the last 5 years more than 6 millions people had been evacuated due to hurricanes.

RECOVERY PHASE Evaluation of damage and needs for recovery Re-stablisment of básic services (water, electricity, medical services etc. Reconstructión of buildings and houses of the population and economical entities

THE USE OF THESE MESURES HIGHLY REDUCED THE NUMBER OF FATAL.ITIES AND THE DAMAGE TO THE ECONOMY, THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE COUNTRY AND THE POPULATION THERE IS A CONSTANT PLAN TO IMPROVE THE SYSTEM

THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION