Gustav Heads Toward Cuba, Now Category 3 Hurricane

[JonLP24]

Source: MyFox Houston

MIAMI -- The National Hurricane Center says Hurricane Gustav is now a dangerous Category 3 storm with winds near 115 mph.

The center said the latest data early Saturday from an Air Force reconnaissance plane shows that Gustav is continuing to strengthen
rapidly.

As of 5 a.m. EDT Saturday, Gustav was centered about 255 miles
east-southeast of the western tip of Cuba and moving northwest near 12 mph.

The center of Gustav was expected to move over western Cuba later Saturday and into the southern Gulf of Mexico early Sunday.



Read more: http://www.myfoxhouston.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=7323730&version=8&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.3.1

[Stern21]

1. They have it hitting Louisiana as a Cat. 3 now as well while going to 4 in the gulf.

[roody]

2. The Cubans are well prepared for hurricanes.

They work together.

[Billy Burnett]

3. Yes. Cuba has benchmark disaster mitigation programs.

DISASTER PLANNING ESSENTIAL FOR MINIMIZING RISKS

Oxfam America recently studied the experience of Cuba in its development of disaster prevention and mitigation programs. Situated in the Caribbean Sea, Cuba frequently stands in the way of serious hurricanes. While its neighbors are battered, losing lives and property, Cuba is unusually good at withstanding these calamities, and suffers much fewer dead.

Oxfam’s report, entitled Weathering the Storm: Lessons in Risk Reduction in Cuba cites a number of attributes of Cuba’s risk reduction program that can be applied by other countries. Three in particular are transferable to Asia and other regions:

Disaster Preparedness: Cuba was especially good at mobilizing entire communities to develop their own disaster preparations. This involves mapping out vulnerable areas of the community, creating emergency plans, and actually simulating emergencies so people can practice evacuations and other measures designed to save lives. When disaster strikes, people know what to do.

Commitment of Resources: Cuba’s strong central government prioritizes resources for its civil defense department. This helps the country to build up a common understanding of the importance of saving lives, and the citizens trust that their contributions to the government are well used for this purpose. Their collaboration on developing emergency plans helped build confidence in the government, so people trust in the plan they helped develop.

Communications: The communications system for emergencies in Cuba builds on local resources. Using local radio stations and other media to issue warnings on potential hazards also reinforces the disaster preparations. Since the local population is already involved in mapping risks and creating emergency plans, they are more inclined to act on emergency bulletins. Good communications, packaged simply, and built on existing, commonly used resources, is another way to build trust in disaster preparations.

Cuba is a unique example. There is a strong central government committed to protecting all its citizens, even the poorest and most isolated who are typically the most at risk. The most common natural disaster in Cuba is a hurricane, a threat visible for days and even weeks in advance. Yet building a culture of disaster preparedness, and involving local communities in mitigating risks, are strategies that can be applied in many other places, regardless of how rich or poor a country might be.

My best hopes go out to them.

[roody]

4. Thanks.

"Cuba’s strong central government prioritizes resources for its civil defense department. This helps the country to build up a common understanding of the importance of saving lives, and the citizens trust that their contributions to the government are well used for this purpose. "
Imagine that!

[Billy Burnett]

5. A dictatorship that puts people's well being first.

That defines a brutal dictatorship, doesn't it?

:eyes:

[EFerrari]

13. Damn commie.

:)

[geomon666]

6. I saw the intensification last night.

Watching the satellite feed and saw the storm bands start to wrap around the center and create an eyewall.

[Purveyor]

7. It only needs a 6mph increase to reach Cat 4 status. There is little doubt that it will reach Cat 5

while churning across those warm, open waters.

[uppityperson]

8. Hokey smokes! k&r

[a la izquierda]

9. Just heard on CNN Espanol that its a Cat 4. N/T

[GliderGuider]

10. Sustained winds now at 150 mph

Storm surge between 18 and 25 feet.
Central pressure 942 mb.

This one has turned into a monster.

[a la izquierda]

11. Ugh, godspeed, Gulf Coast.

The Mexican media, surprisingly, is giving this a great deal of coverage. I guess they figure they get their own share of crazy ass storms too.

[GliderGuider]

12. Here's a map showing Gustav as Cat 5 all the way acrross the gulf, and hitting La as a 4