São Paulo State Releases R$20 Million for Rehabilitation Works After Downpours

SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL – The government of São Paulo announced the release of R$20 million (US$5 million) for rehabilitation works in the capital and in the cities most affected by the heavy rainfall last Monday, February 10th.

“We have released R$20 million for rehabilitation works in the most affected cities and [for] other structuring initiatives,” governor João Doria said.

In a press conference on Friday, Doria said that in addition to the sum for rehabilitation works, he will request R$350 million from the federal government for anti-flooding efforts. “I am sure that the federal government will not turn its back on São Paulo Brazilians.”

The governor said he will travel to Brasília to seek a non-reimbursable grant to build five reservoirs in the metropolitan area. The project will be carried out with federal funds, rather than through financing. According to Doria, reservoirs will minimize the damage.

“Reservoirs are the only structurally effective way to minimize the consequences of flooding in São Paulo. There is no other plan. We obviously have the containment of hillsides, preventing irregular constructions and other initiatives, but the reservoirs will structurally minimize the problems, although not preventing them, as climate change has increased the volume of rainfall”.

According to the São Paulo government data, it rained 114 millimeters in the early hours of February 10th, the second-highest 24-hour rainfall rate in 37 years.

According to the state’s report, seven people died in the state, 408 were displaced and 1,528 were homeless.

Vice Governor Rodrigo Garcia, who was in office while Doria was on a visit to Dubai in the Arab Emirates, said the Civil Defense’s action was decisive, by quickly removing people from risk areas, which prevented many deaths.

Source: Agência Brasil