Hurricane Irma - Keep an Eye on it's path.

[quepasa]

Like mentioned by others I just wonder what this is going to do to Cubas fragile economy.

[greslogo]

Ya, and they just passed a law where construction brigades cannot work outside their province nor hire licensed tradesmen. Duhhh.

The government hasn't fulfilled their promise of building xx,xxx houses every year since the last major hurricane. Now this?

The positive that may come of this disaster is they start loosening up....

[Muzungo]

Putin has assured Cuba that he will help with the rebuilding.

[greslogo]

But he hasn't said what form of help or how much $$$$

[quepasa]

Ya, and they just passed a law where construction brigades cannot work outside their province nor hire licensed tradesmen. Duhhh.

The government hasn't fulfilled their promise of building xx,xxx houses every year since the last major hurricane. Now this?

The positive that may come of this disaster is they start loosening up....

Yes, I think they are going to make an exception now. The different provinces in Cuba always send  brigades to the more damaged places. I see that Santiago is sending brigades to Camaguey.

[Muzungo]

But he hasn't said what form of help or how much $$$$

Not yet, but when he does, we'll hear him tooting his own horn from here.

[greslogo]

To clarify..... These are independent brigades, cooperatives, not government, which I was referring to.

Of course, if you are poor, you are not in a position to hire them but not everybody is poor.

I completely forgot Cuba gets hurricanes... Surprising since i have been in Cuba for 2 of them.

Adding hurricane proof to my criteria for buying a house in Cuba. Primarily, not too near a coast. Winds we can deal with, flooding, no.

Granma.cu had posted quite a few pictures of Havana and west... In the last few hours.

Playa Baracoa, a place of interest in our house hunt.... Not sure now if it is prudent to buy there, based on the pictures.

[wolfcub]

But he hasn't said what form of help or how much $$$$

I'm sure he will in the coming days.  I think it's too early to give specifics until they can completely assess what's needed.

[gallofino]

I'm sure he will in the coming days.  I think it's too early to give specifics until they can completely assess what's needed.

I was talking with my wife about this a few days ago.  With the amount of aid that Texas, the rest of the Caribbean including Cuba and now Florida will need, donation fatigue will inevitably set in and become an issue, so any help will be good. 

On the other hand, that is where exists massive corruption.  As in You get XXX amount of dollars for aid but can only spend it with a specified handful of companies, which in turn give kickbacks all down the line, artificially inflating the cost of goods up to a factor of 10 times the actual value.

And to be clear, this practice exists just about everywhere in the Caribbean, not just in Cuba. 

[ayepapi100]

It looks like parts of Havana got a bit wet..

Does anybody recognize their Cuban friends?

https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/world/video-cubans-wade-boat-through-downtown-havana/video9274c01f-c987-4808-9c3c-8129e8dd8fc7/

Is that a looting of an El Rapido in progress, at 53 seconds ?  the guy is making off with twinkies and two bottles of booze.   

[flacita]

Does anyone get a sense from all the reports just how far the water goes into Havana near the prado? When I stayed there last I was on Consulado between Colon and Trocadero... some very lovely women ran the casa. It looks so close to the malecon on the map, I can't imagine their building was spared.

[ayepapi100]

The intersection of Consulado and Trocadero is up the hill somewhat, just off the Prado, so I rather doubt that intersection would be flooded.  MAYBE the basement, but  I do not know that 'hood very well.

[Diamondeyes490]

They just passed the 24-hour mark without power in Viñales.

[greslogo]

Vinales.... Other than some rain..... Nothing happened. PDR was spared.

[flacita]

My bf said earlier that there was a lot of damage in Varadero but getting back to normality now. I am due to fly there Thursday from UK. Not feeling as optimistic as he is right now but happy he is safe.

Canadian gov't is reporting that all airports in Cuba are closed, no details on reopening. Interesting because it looks like there are still flights scheduled. Anyone else have different info?