I can’t stop wondering why storm drains, sewers, and outlets aren’t being unclogged to tame the fury of the storms, nor why the trees—which, while they beautify our city, also pose a potential danger during hurricane season—aren’t being pruned.

Most of the storm drains, sewers, and outlets in the capital remained obstructed, even though heavy rainfall was forecast for the 2024 hurricane season, with accumulations above the historical average across all regions of the country, and a high probability of hurricane impact—a situation similar to what we face today.

We have proven experience in dealing with the aftermath of extreme natural events, but it’s regrettable that the necessary preventive measures aren’t being taken—starting with the simplest one: unclogging. Why not?

At the start of the Popular Exercise for Disaster Situations, Meteoro 2025, the Chief of the National Civil Defense General Staff, Division General Ramón Pardo Guerra, reiterated that the main goal was to strengthen emergency response capabilities and preparedness for natural phenomena—“an essential activity for the preparation of leadership bodies and the population.”

During that meeting, emphasis was placed on prioritizing the protection of human lives, strengthening early warning systems, and deepening preventive strategies. The need to integrate scientific knowledge and local experience into risk management was also highlighted, in order to “objectively assess vulnerabilities and the exposure of the population and economic and natural resources to hazards.”

I don’t mean to be absolute, much less dramatic, but even the slightest downpour brings flooding—among other reasons, because the drains remain clogged. In cases like this, negligence comes at a high price, sometimes even death.

I refuse to believe that someone could cite economic reasons to explain the failure to properly carry out the necessary unclogging. I’m certain it wouldn’t be a very costly job, though the desire to do it well must not be lacking.

There are still three months left in the hurricane season. So why aren’t we undertaking the necessary preventive actions to avoid, as much as possible, flooding and falling trees?