President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez described as significant he effort made to repair 60% of the homes damaged in Havana by the tornado that struck the city on the night of January 27.
During a March 4 meeting, which included the participation of First Vice President Salvador Valdés Mesa and several ministers, held to review recovery efforts in the capital following the tornado, and examine the status of damages from previous extreme weather events, Díaz-Canel insisted on the necessity of keeping track of progress being made and of what remains to be done.
Reynaldo García Zapata, president of the Havana Provincial Assembly of People’s Power, reported that on the basis of construction materials sold and the work of several construction brigades, work on 101 homes had been completed, of the 804 completely leveled dwellings. Projections indicate that more than 200 will concluded in March.
He assured that in everything that has been done to date, the principle of ensuring good quality has been observed, to ensure that reconstructed buildings are in better condition than before the tornado.
He said that the 4,840 families, whose homes were partially damaged or destroyed, have been assigned the resources they need for reconstruction, and more than 50% have acquired these materials. He added that work continues at a consistent pace to completely repair damaged state institutions, including schools and health care facilities, and others which are still pending.
Party First Secretary in the capital, Luis Antonio Torres Iríbar, emphasized the incorporation of families in construction work from the beginning of recovery efforts, when specialized brigades initiated preparatory tasks.
Brigadier General Ramón Pardo Guerra, head of the Civil Defense Chiefs of Staff, reported that processing offices and construction materials sales points have gained in organization since the recovery began.
He noted that 95% of healthcare, water, electricity, and communications systems were restored within the first 30 days of the recovery.
Also discussed in detail during the meeting was the status of housing stock in several provinces affected by the devastating hurricanes and other extreme weather events that have hit the island in previous years.
Solutions will be found for all damage, he explained, and have been included in the respective provincial plans, insisting that the Cuban government will continue to systematically review progress in this arena.
