More Cuban Families Recovered Homes Hit by Storm

CIEGO DE AVILA, Cuba. Over 7 thousand Cuban familiesrecovered their homes affected by hurricanes Ike and Gustav in 2008. The reconstruction effort made by household members and state-entities recovered 62 percent of all damaged homes in this central eastern

province.

Manuel Rieche Gonzalez, a local government official in charge of construction efforts, said that most recovered homes presented partial damage. However, he said efforts are underway to reconstruct totally destroyed houses in accordance with the availability of construction

materials.

The cost of the reconstruction effort for homeowners is minimum since the government subsidizes over 40 percent of the value of each home, said Gonzalez. At the same time construction forces in Ciego de Avila are currently rehabilitating 20 apartment buildings and carrying outother remodelling actions in other facilities.

The passage of hurricanes Gustav, Ike and Paloma through Cuba damagedover 500, 000 homes and caused damage for nearly 10 billion dollars.

Recovering from such damage will take from three to six years as noted by President Raul Castro.

(Más familias cubanas disfrutan de sus hogares nuevamente)