This weekend, all of Cuba became a theater of operations allowing for the evaluation of the country's preparedness to face extraordinary situations, during the Response to Disasters Popular Exercise, Meteoro 2017

The country's ability to react when faced with severe earthquakes, hurricanes, prolonged drought, or disasters of a health nature was put to the test this weekend, May 20-21, during the Response to Disasters Popular Exercise, Meteoro 2017.

In the country's 15 provinces and the Isle of Youth Special Municipality, a variety of practical actions were carried out, focused on reducing vulnerability via prevention and preparedness, as the principal means to mitigate the impact of such events.

Activities in the Havana municipality of Plaza included clearing of storm sewers in several areas close to the waterfront, in the Vedado neighborhood, which have been affected by flooding during storms, as well as the pruning of trees.

Clearing of debris from riverfronts was also a focus in the municipalities of Guanabacoa and San Miguel del Padrón, while illegal garbage dumps and breeding grounds for mosquitoes were cleaned up across the capital.

The Latinoamericano Stadium's parking lot served as the gathering site for search and rescue brigades which are always ready to respond in any area of the country where they might be needed. This preparedness trial run was led by Brigadier General Raúl Acosta Gregorich, head of the Western Army's Joint Chiefs of Staff.