Rumors of Fidel Castro’s death ?ew through Miami sending this immigrant haven onto high alert—again.

Police of?cials were called in and security informed of what was supposed to be an announcement con?rming the death of Fidel Castro, the 48 year Cuban dictator.

Instead, the announcement was, “it is just a rumor.” But, what exactly would Miami of?cials do if such news were released?

“As of right now there are no procedures. At this point it all depends on the factors,” explained Barry Dena, spokesperson for the U.S. Coast Guard. “If we get notice of mass Cuban migration, then we will implement our plan.”

The plan that the U.S. Coast Guard has in place is, Operation Vigilance Century. This plan is a partnership with other federal agencies (The U.S. Navy, Border Patrol, and customs) to secure our U.S. borders, explained Dena.

In July of 2006 the communist leader underwent emergency intestinal surgery and has not made a public appearance since; this has been the cause of speculations of his health—mentally and physically.

Later, in July of 2006, there was a “temporary” exchange of power to his younger brother Raul

Castro and, since then, power has not been returned.

From that point, the rumors began.

However, after his 81st birthday came and went, with no

word from the Cuban Dictator himself, the rumors

spindled into con?rmation and then non-con?rmation.

While these types of rumors are not uncommon, and

can be traced as far back as 1981, when news spread

that Castro was dead and he’d been replaced by a

look-alike CIA plant by the name of Alexis Papagos

-- the people were still on high alert.

“There was no state of emergency declared,”

said Public information of?cer for Homeland Security,

Jamie Hernandez. “We stayed on high alert and we had a meeting with the staff here at the OEM to talk about the rumors. It all depends on what’s announced and what happens,” he said.

All emergency agencies have plans in place, but most are expecting celebrations and not riots. The Miami-Dade Police Department explained that they do have plans in place to address any reaction when the news is publicized.

After the Cuban-born rumor reached Miami, Cuban of?cials declared that the dictator was doing well and making steady progress.

Vice President Carlos Lage told the Associated Press: “Fidel continues to recuperate. It’s a productive

recuperation, as we can see in the press.”

However, a recent tape of an interview with Fidel Castro contradicted these rumors. Cuban of?cials broke into regularly scheduled programming to announce the interview which allegedly took place on Friday, September 22nd.

Castro appeared alert and he seemed healthier. But, his appearance was a bit informal, showing up in a red jump suit with the word F. Castro in small block letters.

His cheeks were sunken in, he had bags under his eyes, and his beard was wispier than ever. Through the duration of the hour-long interview, aired on the state owned Cubavision, a de?ant Castro spoke out about the

rumors of his death. “I am here,” he declared. At the beginning of the interview he sometimes trailed off in mid-sentence and needed to be prompted by the interviewer. Yet, he did not hesitate to mock these

rumors.

“They say I was ‘dying’ and if I die I will die ‘the day after tomorrow’ or something. Nobody knows the day they are going to die,’’ said Castro.

He was a genuine Castro, speaking adamantly against the Bush administration, the war, and he even quoted an excerpt from former U.S. Federal Reserve chairman,

Alan Greenspan’s, recent book,``The Age of Turbulence: Adventures in a New World,’’ apparently trying to prove that the interview was indeed ?lmed recently.

The dictator spoke out about many topics in his interview, but he did not mention the condition of his health. However, he wrote in an essay that he did undergo multiple surgeries and one had gone horribly.

Foreign Minister Felipe Pérez Roque told the AP: “Fidel is recovering with discipline, and I think that he’s having a productive work period…and participating in the country’s principal decisions.”

Amongst other things, the interview revealed that Fidel Castro is not well enough to run a country.

Surviving the multiple attempts to be removed from his position as a communist leader, Mr. Fidel Castro somehow manages to also survive these rumors.



Samantha Jean-Baptiste contributed to this report.