Hurricane Matthew began pounding Cuba late on Tuesday, but residents of the island were largely calm, highly prepared after weathering previous storms.

Deserted roads and unlit street lamps felt anything but normal, however, shortly before the storm made landfall late on Tuesday afternoon.

Government and civil protection agencies placed on high alert in the island nation's four eastern regions had mobilized to coordinate more than 1.3 million voluntary evacuations and prepare shops, shelters and food distribution centers with supplies.