Cuban western provinces prepare to face tropical storm Rafael

 

ARTEMISA, Cuba, Nov 5 (ACN) This time the territory will not escape from the force of winds and heavy rains of tropical storm Rafael, probably hurricane when it reaches Cuba, so the agriculture of Artemisa is preparing, in order to protect the productions and ensure the resources.

Alcides Lopez Labrada, provincial delegate of Agriculture, declared to the Cuban News Agency that they are harvesting in an accelerated way crops in danger of being lost, such as plantain, cassava and sweet potato, in order to minimize losses and ensure the supply to the population.

Of the 187 tons (t) of stockpiled agricultural products, 80 were distributed to the population and another 107 remained in warehouses, he revealed.

Likewise, 42 crop houses are being dismounted, with emphasis on the Ceiba Citrus Company, he added, while the tobacco company dismounted the cover of 96 tunnels, kept 66 thousand trays under roof, secured the kalfrisas and protected the 150 tons of tobacco that remain in the selected ones.

Lopez Labrada pointed out that 5,497 head of cattle were moved to higher ground to protect them from the probable drowning caused by floods, while the swine company guarantees the protection of 1,860 breeding cows, 1,200 fattening cows, 1,110 calves and 600 pre-suckling cows.

The poultry farming system is also committed to protect 444,472 animals and food stores, with feed coverage for a little more than three days and water for four days, he said.

Meanwhile, according to the provincial newspaper El Artemiseño, the coastal area of Playa Guanimar is probably the most vulnerable territory of the municipality of Alquizar due to the possible penetrations of the sea that could be generated by the tropical storm Rafael.

Larexey Batista Ortiz, president of the Municipal Defense Council, pointed out that evacuation in the area is mandatory and a priority task.

According to the report, several student centers are prepared to serve as shelters for evacuees and it have the necessary personnel to guarantee the stay of the inhabitants and plan to prepare food for the evacuees starting today.

Alquizar has an active 24-hour management post with which the population can communicate to keep informed about the extreme hydro-meteorological event.