A half-year after Hurricane Sandy, Cuba has had successes in recovery but much work remains

HAVANA – Many people in eastern Cuba are said to still be living with relatives or in homes covered by flimsy makeshift rooftops six months after Hurricane Sandy pummeled the island's eastern provinces.

In general people have praise for government efforts to rebuild Santiago and other cities. One resident says Santiago is once again "blossoming."

But they caution that much work remains to recover from the storm.

An aid worker says some people are in damaged homes covered by only plastic sheets. That's of particular concern as the summer rainy season approaches.

Thursday marked six months since Sandy made landfall in Cuba, where 11 people died from the storm.

Sandy then raged up the U.S. Atlantic Seaboard and killed 72 more.