In all, almost 180,000 of the province´s 730,000 inhabitants were brought to safe spots, as the sea began to enter the streets with vigor beginning early in the morning.

Many of the people of Cortès have gone to the Roberto Amarant Junior High School, only a little over a mile from the coast, but to the east, outside the track of the usual south-to-north sea penetration here.

Here there are doctors, nurses, medicine and food to guarantee the best conditions possible for the evacuees, which includes almost 600 children, and these conditions are replicated in all the sanctuaries along southern Pinar del Rio, a region world famous for the quality of its cigars.

Good news for lovers of the Habanos is that the province´s tobacco leaves were guarded in safe places and the plants for the next crop are still in their seed beds.

More than 50 million pounds of these internationally desired tobacco leaves were gathered into solid installations to prevent any damage to the traditional wooden curing houses, which by their height and structure, would be subject to affect by the strong winds.

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