By Roberto Morejon
Electrical company workers from several provinces and government groups in charge of assessing the damage caused by Hurricane Idalia, are in Pinar del Rio, Cuba's westernmost province once again hit by severe tropical storm.
Linesmen and evaluators open the way for other groups that will support a region heavily affected by heavy rains and wind gusts of almost 100 kilometers per hour, causing significant flooding.
Rivers burst their banks, trees and power lines collapsed, and thousands of Piñareños had to be evacuated because their homes were in danger.
The evacuation, common in the plans of Cuba's well-trained Civil Defense, proved its usefulness as communities and roads were flooded after the meteorological phenomenon.
The coastal floods also worried the residents of the westernmost province of the largest Antillean Island, who in addition to protecting themselves and their belongings, are now waiting to recover from the tropical cyclone's onslaught.
They are also expected to attend to schools damaged by Hurricane Idalia, when there are only a few days left for the beginning of the next school year.
Along with the above, it remains as an unwavering purpose to attend to families and people in vulnerable conditions.
Nothing should be forgotten, say the people of Pinar del Río, who developed a rapid offensive before the hurricane hit to transport merchandise and agricultural products, and thus reduce losses.
These provisional efforts became essential in a territory that has not yet fully recovered from the onslaught of Hurricane Ian in 2022.
Pinar del Río will have to urgently attend to the needs arising from the onslaught of Hurricane Idalia, in order to be able to continue the work with a view to redeeming itself from Ian's punishment.
Precisely, the electrical system, agriculture and communications are the sectors most affected by what was first a tropical storm and then a hurricane.
The Cuban province of Pinar del Río, repeatedly hit by cyclones, has begun another offensive to mitigate the negative effects of Hurricane Idalia with its own resources and those that are beginning to arrive from the central government.
All the eyes of Cubans are looking towards Pinar del Río to help in this time of need.
