Hurricane Oscar Makes Landfall in Cuba, Sparking Fears of Humanitarian Crisis

Hurricane Oscar, a Category 1 storm with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph, made landfall in Cuba on Sunday evening, shortly after impacting the Bahamas. The hurricane hit near Baracoa just before 6 p.m. ET, coinciding with widespread power outages across the island. By 8 p.m., Oscar's winds had decreased to 75 mph. As millions in Cuba faced a blackout, the electrical grid collapsed for the fourth time in just 48 hours, exacerbating the existing crises of food, medicine, and fuel shortages. In response, the government canceled school through Wednesday—a rare measure—urging only essential workers to report on Monday. Forecasters from the National Hurricane Center anticipate that Oscar will weaken over the mountainous terrain of eastern Cuba, though it could still remain a tropical storm as it moves northward late Monday and across the central Bahamas on Tuesday. Rainfall amounts of 6 to 12 inches are expected through Wednesday morning, with some areas potentially receiving up to 18 inches. The center also warned of a dangerous storm surge along Cuba's north shore, with tides reaching 1 to 3 feet above normal, accompanied by large and destructive waves. #### Concerns of a Humanitarian Crisis A dangerous storm surge is expected in southeastern Bahamas, particularly around Great Inagua Island, and later along Cuba's north shore. There are worries that Oscar could strengthen to a Category 2 storm. Jon Porter, chief meteorologist for AccuWeather, emphasized the risks associated with heavy rainfall in the steep terrain of southeastern Cuba, which could lead to severe flash flooding, mudslides, and rockslides. He warned, "The combination of these factors may result in a humanitarian crisis in parts of southeast Cuba if Oscar makes landfall or passes closely." The ongoing power crisis in Cuba raises additional concerns about the storm's impact. On Saturday, authorities managed to restore power to about 20% of the nation’s 10 million residents after multiple grid failures. Porter stated, "Hurricane impacts in Cuba are particularly alarming due to the existing power grid crisis. The added strain of a hurricane will worsen the situation, jeopardizing lives and complicating efforts to prepare for, respond to, and recover from the storm." The island's electrical grid first collapsed on Friday after the shutdown of its largest power plant, leading to further outages throughout the weekend.