STATISTICS FROM AROUND THE ISLAND (OBTAINED FROM THE LOCAL NEWSPAPER!)

·                   DEATH TOLL 5. 1 HAVANA, 1 MATANZAS, 2 JAGUEY GRANDE, 1CARDENAS.

·                   705153 PEOPLE WERE EVACUATED AROUND THE COUNTRY.

·                   MAIN EFFECTED AREAS CIENAGA DE ZAPATA, JAGUEY GRANDE, CARDENAS

·                   2000 HOUSES DEMOLISHED AROUND THE COUNTRY

·                   HAVANA

o        179 HOUSES DEMOLISHED 1550 HOUSES DAMAGED.

o        1200 TREES DOWN.

o        36 SCHOOLS DAMAGED.

o        13 COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES DAMAGED.

o        159 POWER POLES DOWN.

o        34 TRANSFORMERS DAMAGED.

FOR TOURIST INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT YOUR TRAVEL AGENT OR RELEVANT EMBASSY.

Regards

Michael Connolly

LATEST FROM AROUND THE ISLAND.

·                   COMMUNICATION VERY DIFFICULT AS MANY PHONE LINES DOWN STILL.

·                   ½ OF HAVANA STILL WITHOUT ELECTRICITY, THEY ARE SAYING IT SHOULD BE FULLY RESTORED IN 24 – 72 HRS.

·                   MATANZAS AND CIENFUEGOS POWER STATIONS SAID TO BE OUT OF ORDER DUE TO DAMAGE CAUSED BY MICHELLE.

·                   ITS REPORTED THAT MATANZAS CAN EXPECT TO BE WITHOUT POWER FOR 15 DAYS.

·                   CAYO COCO AND CAYO GUILLERMO TOURIST WERE EVACUATED TO SANTIAGO DE CUBA.

·                   CAYO LARGO TOURIST WERE EVACUATED TO HOTELS IN VARADERO.

·                   VARADERO: NO FATALITIES REPORTED. 8 HOTELS CLOSED DUE TO DAMAGE THE TOURISTS WERE TRANSFERRED TO OTHER HOTELS. THERE IS NO ELECTRICITY; THE MAJORITY OF THE HOTELS ARE RUNNING ON GENERATORS. THEY EXPECT THE POWER TO BE ON WITHIN 7 DAYS.

Regards

Michael Connolly

I have just returned from Havana. There are trees, branches and traffic lights down everywhere, however the cleanup is in full swing. Machetes and truckloads of debris flying everywhere.

I just got a call from a friend in Havana to inform me that they have just got the power back (1600hrs). Congratulations to the linesmen who have been working franticly all day.

I have been told that over 150 houses collapsed in Havana. This is very possible if you consider the state of them before they met Michelle!

There are still some communication problems I have not been able to get through to Matanzas yet!

Attached a few more photos from around the place.

Regards

Michael Connolly

Find attached the correct photos from around Tarara. (in frount of my house).

Regards

Michael Connolly

Nectar Representative

OK BACK ON LINE!

THE CLEAN UP BEGINS

WOKE UP THIS MORNING TO FIND TREE AND POWER LINES DOWN, A FEW BROKEN WINDOWS. APART FROM THAT WE HAVE COME OUT OF THINGS OK.

FLOODING HAS BEEN MINIMAL IN OUR AREA. THE SEA ROSE INTO THE SEASIDE TOWN OF GUANABO, IT HAS RECEDED NOW, HOWEVER ALLOT OF HOUSES LEFT FULL OF SAND.

THERE IS NO POWER THROUGHOUT HAVANA (GREAT INVESTMENT THE GENERATOR) AND THEY ARE SAYING IT WILL A FEW DAYS BEFORE IT IS RESTORED AS THERE ARE LINES DOWN EVERYWHERE. WATER A PROBLEM ALSO AS MANY OF THE UPROOTED TREES HAVE TORN UP THE WATER MAINS. NO ONE CAN SAY HOW LONG THIS WILL TAKE TO REPAIR!

MUST BE THANKFUL TO HAVE THE TELEPHONE.

ATTACHED A FEW PHOTOS OF THE DAMAGE.

I WILL GIVE ANOTHER UPDATE LATER IN THE DAY.

MICHAEL CONNOLLY