The Revival of a Storm-Ravaged Community

Pinar del Rio, Jan 9 (ACN) When hurricane Ian ravaging passage destroyed so many homes in western Pinar del Rio province last September 27, Yaremi Fernandez—mother of two children-- knew she would not remain helpless and now she has witnessed how local workers give the finishing touches to her new place in the community of El Sitio, a region devastated by the powerful storm.

“Some details are still to be finished but I’m so happy and grateful to the workers with the Agriculture Ministry’s Logistics Company,” Fernandez told the Cuban News Agency.

“My former home was in very bad shape and did not resist the strong winds so it totally collapsed, now I have a new home; it’s wooden place like my previous one but strong, with a porch, three bedrooms, terrace, dining, bathroom and kitchen, she noted”

At present, workers with the Logistics Company are building another 62 homes to replace those who collapsed under the hurricane, like that of Dora Milian, who has been living with her son for the past 104 days at a neighbor’s place.

Company executive Juan Antonio Rodriguez said that all homes being raised are wooden with zinc cover; he stressed the support by neighbors in the El Sitio community, located some 15 kilometers from the city of Pinar del Rio.

Category 3 Hurricane Ian affected over 102 homes in the western Cuban area as well as economic and social centers, agriculture, the power and telephone systems.