Firefighter Blog

Yes, it has been a disaster. We have family on the island and have somehow managed to contact them by phone this morning. They are clearly traumatised by what has happened and my aunt says it is the worst thing she has seen in all her 43 years. A beautiful, huge mango tree which was taller than most of the builings around it has been felled by the winds, her balcony doors are gone, her front door is gone. My mother in law has had windows ripped out and her heavy wood balcony doors have been dashed to pieces in the streets. We called her at the height of the hurricane and she had all the neighbours in her block in her apartment as everything above had been ripped apart and was not safe. The water tanks had been torn from the roof so I have no idea how they will get water to wash and drink. Hopefully we will be able to get some money to them so they can make some repairs but I feel for all the people who do not have family abroad to help. It is difficult enough getting hold of basic supplies in Cuba (and particularly 'La Isla') at the best of times but what are they going to do now?
 

I am sorry for the suffering of your family and other residents on "la Isla" affected by this storm.
Do you have an email address to share in case anyone wishes to offer help?
Mike
 

Thank you for your kind reply. We are so worried that La Isla de la Juventud will be forgotten about and be the last place to get any kind of help. They are quite isolated from the main island.

We returned from a visit in June and were touched by the huge efforts everybody had made to find food for us, to make their places look nice for us and to make us feel comfortable. Over the years they have slowly done little bits and pieces to their homes but now everything they have done has been destroyed and it will takes years to rebuild. My aunt says that the island was never prepared for a catagory 4 hurricane such as Gutsav. In the coverage in the US you can see pictures and film of people boarding up the windows - in 'La Isla' most people would not be able to get anything to board up windows with. Many homes have simple wooden shutters instead of glass windows (as it is cheaper) but any of the stores or bulidings with glass windows now find them destroyed. There is a small cinema in 'La Isla' which is one of the few forms of entertainment on the little island - my aunt says that the windows 'exploded' in the storm. She says that the town of Nueva Gerona is a disaster. She now has a sheet at her window so that she does not have to look out at the scene, and so that they have some kind of privacy. I dread to think what will happen if Tropical Storm Hanna does turn towards La Isla. We feel so helpless here, but so lucky that were able to speak to our aunt and know that most of the family is unhurt. My husband has experienced several hurricanes and says that hunger is one of the worst issues in the aftermath. The Cuban people are very resourceful but they must feel so devestated on 'La Isla' - all the small steps that they have been taking forward - now they have been dragged back ten steps. On our last visit we bought a new water tank for my Mother in Law which she was delighted with - it seems so sad that it is now gone and I imagine that she has no supply of fresh water.



My email address is racheldmoo@hotmail.com

Thanks again Mike for your kind words. Our thoughts are with all of those who have been affected by this terrible storm.
 

I am also a pinero, I called my godmother to no avail today, I was told that most telephone lines are down, even if they ring and noene answer. A litle later we were able to contact a cousin. I was told there will be no power at least for weeks to come. Communication with our family in la isla may be close to imposible.
It will be tough to recover, even to the pre hurricane levels, were an 89 year old woman had to walk two blocks to get a bucket of water.
best of wishes for all pineros, we like marabu. ricky
 

We also have relatives in the island with blown up windows, doors and roof tanks; one of them is blind and walks on a wooden leg but he survived; the main problem that the island faces now is the typical approach of the Castros, with secrecy, for they do not report details or true statistics about anything, that is the main reason why no one reports anything, for there is no information where everything is a state secret. The Castros are the landlords of every property but they expect the tenants do all the cleaning, maintenance and repairs with dollars supplied by the "Miami enemies" so the Castros can collect premium prices for the materials if any. They do not accept international help unless it goes directly to his pocket, otherwise it can represent a political threat "orchestrated by the CIA" or by the "enemies of the revolution." It is not the first time that foreign help is refused due to fears of the help undermining his empire or relieving the people of total dependence on his whims.
 

The Cuban people deserve better than communist rule.

I have studied "La Isla" from overhead on Google Earth over the last couple of days. Looking at Nueva Gerona from overhead is an education. It's stark, no cars, no new development!

Streets and avenues, thousands of homes and appartment blocks, no cars.
It looks like it's abandoned but it is not. The user generated images offered by Panarimo on Google Earth show older whitewashed buildings. A city frozen in time.

Bycicle and rickshaw look like the only way to get around.
The south side of the island offers pure white sand beaches and pristine waters.

The natural thought for an American is to tap the beauty with eco-friendly tourism and let the Islanders capitalize on the profits.
With development they could build better schools, better medical facilities, invite medical specialist from across the globe--become part of the larger world.

Children of every nation deserve a shot at the best life possible. Cuba has failed their children.

The Cuban people are intelligent, kind, resourceful and hardy. Life is tough enough without having to fend for themselves after a cat 4 hurricane.

God bless the good Cuban people. You deserve better.
Mike
 

I was born and raised in the Isle of youth , Iam in Miami. My closest relative are still in "la Isla" I have not been able to communicate with them.
Can anybody tell me how to make contact with them?
 

I love the comment from Ricky that Pineros are like marabu! It's so true! When we called Cuba the next day, everyone was feeling more positive and had already patched some things up. It will take a long time for things to get back to how they were but I am amazed at how quickly they seem to have bounced back! Incredible!

The only phone we can get through on (for some reason) is our aunt. If the author of the above message can give me some details I can try to find out some info re their family. Rachel
 

Thanks, for the offer.
My mom's name is Gloria.She leaves in Nueva Gerona street 53 house # 1811 betw 18 street and 20 street
She leaves in a pretty well maintaned house but I havnt heard from anybody just What I have read from here and a lady from Batabano who said none expected what happenned in "la isla" she said is horrible.
I really want to know how they are.
Liuba
 

im pinera too,and i feel so bad,,today finally i had comunication whit my mon,,but was by cell phone and was just a mesage,,if you are really from there you can understand this mesage,,,my mother said that you can see el panel dos from cochabamba,,,,imagine that,,,no more trees ,,she said every things is clear and many bulding lost the tank of water that was in la fe too,,,abaut gerona she said that we lost many houses,and almost all the food ,,i mean every things that wasnt collect from the land,,,,,but the more importan that she told was ,,dont warry bebe we will be fine,,,,we still alive,,that is the more importan,,,was hard ,,very hard to see this mesage,,,,,but god is big and he gonna take care ours family for us,,,,,my name laura and i live in gerona,,,,stree 18n betwen 35 and 37,,,,now im in canada,,,,,just my faily live there,,,,bye and ,,,,,animo cubanos,,animo islenos,,
 

My name is Michelle. I am an American living in the Cayman Islands. My husband and I sailed into Isla de La Juventud on a little old sailboat 8 years ago. We loved it. We did not go to any hotels or touristy spots, just there with the people near the river. Today at lunch break I went to a department store. There I met a lovely lady with tears in her eyes. Her name is Yolanda and she too is from "La Isla". She cried. We cried. I am so sorry. I have so much to be thankful for. One thing I am grateful for is this wonderful website. Thank you for keeping/putting La Isla in the spot light. It is much deserved.
 

Thank you for the compliment Michelle. I have a feeling of deep sadness for the residents of "La Isla".
The US media offers nothing on the condition of the island.
This is a shame!
 

Liuba, Soy Rachel. Mi suegra fue a la casa de tu mama y ella dijo que no te preocupes, que todos estan bien de salud, que solo fueron afectados los cristales de la casa, pero no hirieron a nadie.

We have been in contact with our family by internet and they say that already the electricity is back on in some parts and that they are busy repairing what they can. The attitude seems to be that 'we are alive, we are going to rebuild everything even better than before!' I just wish that we could be there to help.

Best wishes and good luck to everyone and thanks to Mike for your help and support.
 

Positive news, thank you for the comment!
 

I spoke to my boyfriend in La Fe (the island's second town) last night on an amazingly clear telephone line. There is still no electricity in La Fe almost a week after the event. Most of the houses have lost their doors and slat windows; some have lost their roofs. Most people have lost everything. All the trees are down. There are just a few emergency telephones working in La Fe. Nobody there expected the storm to be as bad as it was - the government had played down the severity of it. There are many injuries in La Fe (but apparently no deaths). There is little to eat and the water supply is disrupted. The people there feel abandoned by the government and the world. The university in Nueva Gerona has been decimated, and all the computer equipment is lost and smashed. It will be months before things start to approach normality for the average person in La Isla. It is a secret disaster area, which nobody knows much about. If anyone wants to know more about the situation in La Fe, feel free to email me on chaz_london@yahoo.co.uk
 

I have just had another email from my Mother in Law and it made me feel terrible. She says that now some epidemics have started, mainly vomiting and diarrhoea. She also says that the island looks dead. I feel so helpless here. I have read that food and suplies are being sent but my mother in law has not told me that she has rceived anthing personally. She told me that lots of people have been hurt but thankfully no loss of life, but one of the little girls nearby had the top of two fingers torn off, and a little boy had a huge gash in his head. It's just so depressing, especially when there is not much I feel I can do from here.
 

Chaz, Rachel,

Do either of you know if any Cuban American relief groups based in Florida have initiated efforts to aid "La Isla"?

International Red Cross maybe? I understand Haiti is in worse shape but Cuban Americans could get something organized out of Miami.

Is anyone forming up a blog where information can be collected and disseminated?
 

Hi Mike, I don't know andything about help form the Cuban Americans.

I'm not really great with anything on the internet so I don't know anything about any blogs either! See what I mean about feeling / being usless!

So you would recommend contacting the International Red Cross? My mother in law is just recovering from an operation to remove a tumor and is currently sleeping on a hard floor as her mattress is soaked. It makes me want to cry.
 

I have found some aerial photos of the aftermath on the island.

www.monstersandcritics.com/news/americas/features/article_1428577.php
 

Rachel, link to the International Red Cross here.
Apparently the USA has offered help according to this article.
Here is the link to the site you posted Rachel, link!
 

The link I posted above was incomplete.
Here is the link to images of La Isla, post Hurricane Gustav.
Thanks again Rachel
 

I have just seen footage of the devastion in Haiti on television (I don't have time to watch TV normally or read newspapers as I have a two year old and have just started a small business). I was so focused on Cuba that I didn't realise it was so bad.
 

I too have family and friends in La Fe and cannot contact them since the hurricane. I spoke via telphone the day after- but since then I cannot get a connection. A 75 year old family member said it was the worst storm she ever experienced and was very upset. Her door and windows were smashed to pieces and everything was wet or destroyed. Does anyone have contact with La Fe that could perhaps check on these people and get a message to them for me??
 

I am currently watching live Cuban T.V in the UK which is keeping me up to date on the progress of Ike. You can view it at ustream.tv . You will need to put in the search box Cuba tv . I hope this is of some help to some of you. Fingers crossed for everyone.
 

If anyone can contact Ramona Montalvo-Lora and her family to check on them that would be great. she lives at Calle 28 #2821 Apt. #8Panel 1 Santa Fe. Please tell her that Ang is worried and to contact Havana. I cannot get a phone connection. Any message back would be great !Thanks