Local authorities spring into action

The first week was the hardest because adjustments had to be made and made quickly, which required a lot of logistics and simultaneous actions by distinct entities that had to be coordinated.

We must not forget that the two main operations that we had to manage were, first, to make sure that there was enough firewood because most people wanted to stay in their homes and, second, to get generators, mainly to be able to run our stores and businesses, so that people could survive economically and provide the goods and services that people needed.

The hardest was afterwards. When the stress was over, the problem was to manage your emotions, which came back, along with fatigue. Many didn’t feel well or were sick because, at some point, your immune system gives out. It was a difficult time because, when you had been running on adrenalin for so long, going back to the daily grind, you felt a huge emptiness. It was a bit tough. It wasn’t the end of the world but you still felt it.