Southern Brazil Is Still Reeling From Massive Flooding As It Faces Risk From New Storms

Brazil’s Porto Alegre — Meteorologist Estael Sias knew the water would eventually drain into the metropolitan area of Porto Alegre, the state capital of Brazil’s Rio Grande do Sul state, and that she would need to locate a safe place as significant floods overtook entire communities in the northern portion of the state last week.

Thus, she abandoned everything with her spouse, their two dogs, and their three kids. Her neighborhood in Canoas, which is currently among the worst devastated cities in the state, began to fill with water less than a day later.

“My home was submerged,” Sias remembered, her voice quivering. “And forcing my family to leave my house was incredibly difficult.” She stated she could defend those close to her, but not those who insisted on remaining where they were. It has been and continues to be quite upsetting. I’m not sure what will happen when I get back home.

AP – VOR News Image

Southern Brazil Is Still Reeling From Massive Flooding As It Faces Risk From New Storms

While rescuers in southern Brazil raced on Wednesday to bring survivors of the catastrophic flooding that has claimed the lives of at least 100 people, some locals refused to part with their possessions, and others went back to their evacuated houses despite the possibility of more storms.

Since last week, 130 individuals have gone missing in Rio Grande do Sul due to heavy rainfall and flooding, according to authorities. The floodwaters have cut off a large portion of the area, and more than 230,000 people have been forced to flee.

Seem storms were predicted for the state on Wednesday evening, with gusts of wind up to 60 km/h (37 mph) and hail likely, according to the afternoon advisory from the National Meteorological Institute. Additionally, the institute predicts that this weekend will bring more rain due to a cold front that will be especially strong in the state’s east and north.

About 300 people were taking refuge at the neighborhood club Gremio Nautico Uniao in Porto Alegre, located in the affluent, minimally damaged area of Moinhos de Vento. As volunteers brought boxes full of feijoada, a traditional Brazilian stew made with beans and meat, dozens of people lay on mats.

AP – VOR News Image

Southern Brazil Is Still Reeling From Massive Flooding As It Faces Risk From New Storms

Heitor da Silva was one of them, having followed the advice of the authorities. He is still concerned about the future.

“I simply brought my paperwork, my flip-flops, two pairs of underwear, and three clothes. “Everything else is gone,” remarked da Silva, 68. “Even though I didn’t have much, it remained there. There won’t be anything when I get home. What happens next?

One of the hardest-hit cities by the floods, Eldorado do Sul, has people that officials from the state’s civil defense agency told The Associated Press have been difficult to convince to leave their houses. It is situated close to the middle of the state’s coastline, next to Porto Alegre. Four people at least said no to leaving.

A military helicopter flying above Eldorado do Sul observed hundreds of dwellings flooded, with just their roofs showing. Locals get around on small boards, surfboards, and personal watercraft. Mayor Ernani de Freitas informed local media that the city “will be totally evacuated.”

“Recovery will take at least a year,” he declared.

Governor Eduardo Leite of Rio Grande do Sul held a press conference late Tuesday to urge people to avoid the area because the predicted downpour could result in more severe floods throughout the state.

“Now is not the moment to go back home,” he declared.

The potential of disease transmission was also emphasized in the civil defense agency’s urgent warning to displaced residents not to return to flooded areas.

One of the rescue coordinators, Army Gen. Marcelo Zucco, told the AP that his team is operating at maximum capacity ahead of the torrential downpours expected to reach the Porto Alegre region this weekend. The city was seeing moderate rain on Wednesday afternoon.

“There’s no way to be sure there won’t be trouble ahead of us, but we hope the next rains are not like those we saw,” Zucco remarked.

Our current priorities are completing the rescue efforts and providing the populace with logistical support. That entails delivering food, drink, medicine, and medical transportation for the ill,” the general continued.

He said that his soldiers had now reached several regions by land thanks to some improvement in the day’s weather.

In portions of Uruguay, unusually strong rains have also flooded areas, causing rivers to overflow in the east of the nation and forcing almost 1,000 people to flee, according to authorities. Rescuers said they had evacuated 200 stranded individuals with the army’s assistance. Although the emergency agency said that flash floods had destroyed over a dozen roads and left thousands of residents without power, there were no immediate reports of injuries.

AP – VOR News Image

Southern Brazil Is Still Reeling From Massive Flooding As It Faces Risk From New Storms

Sias, the Rio Grande do Sul meteorologist who works for a forecasting service based there, said that rain in the northern part of the state over the weekend could cause rivers that are already causing widespread flooding around the Patos lagoon, where the Porto Alegre municipal region is located, to swell again.

“We’re going to stay on this alert level until the end of the month,” she declared.

A survey by the National Confederation of Municipalities estimates that damages in over 80% of Rio Grande do Sul’s municipalities are worth 4.6 billion reais ($930 million).

According to Governor Leite, the massive damage will necessitate a rehabilitation plan similar to that of Europe after World War II. The state has already requested that the federal government halt debt payments and establish a fund specifically for the southern region.

Congress overrode a spending cap on Tuesday by enacting an order that declared a state of calamity in Rio Grande do Sul till the end of the year. This allowed the federal government to immediately begin allocating funds to lessen the damage and restore areas damaged by the floods. Both government opponents and supporters of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva came together over the vote.

“Public spending to address the crisis that is currently destroying the state of Rio Grande do Sul has no boundaries,” Planning and Budget Minister Simone Tebet stated in an interview with Radio Gaucha.

SOURCE – (AP)