According to the agency’s forecast, there is a risk of damage to buildings and plantations, electricity cuts and flooding until Tuesday (May 7).
Inmet (National Institute of Meteorology) issued this Monday (6.ami.2024) a “great danger” alert for the southeast of Rio Grande do Sul. The statement indicates the occurrence of rainfall accumulations exceeding 100 millimeters per day , winds of up to 100km/h and also hail.
There is a great risk of damage to buildings, falling trees, flooding and disruption to road transport. The alert runs until Tuesday (May 7) at noon.
Here are the affected municipalities:
- Arroio Grande;
- Chuí;
- Herbal;
- Jaguarão;
- High Stones;
- Big River; It is
- Santa Vitória do Palmar.
According to Inmet, “great danger” alerts indicate the occurrence of meteorological phenomena of exceptional intensity. In this range, there is the possibility of major damage and accidents and risks to physical integrity or even human life.
Part of the southeast and southwest of the state is under a level of danger due to the storm. Rainfall will be 30 to 60 mm/h, with winds of 60 to 100 km/h. There are risks of flooding, electricity cuts, damage to crops and falling trees in the region. The central-western portion is under a potential danger alert, with lower risks of damage and power cuts.
The number of deaths from the rains in Rio Grande do Sul has already risen to 83, according to a bulletin released at 12pm this Monday (May 6) by the State Civil Defense. Storms have hit the municipalities of Rio Grande do Sul since April 28th. The storm affected 364 of the 497 cities, with 336 in a state of public calamity.
PUBLIC CALAMITY
On Thursday (May 2), the federal government recognized a state of public calamity in the state, after governor Eduardo Leite (PSDB) decreed the status.
The toucan has been asking for financial help from the Union. On Sunday (May 5), he requested the suspension of payment of the monthly installment of the State’s debt for the period of reconstruction of the damage caused by the rains. The request is part of the planning to restore infrastructure and boost the local economy. The State’s debt to the Union is R$3.5 billion.
Leite also called for exceptionality in sending resources to the State and said that fiscal restrictions hinder the state’s work in the region. He also spoke of the need for a “Marshall Plan” for the State to be rebuilt, in reference to the help offered by the United States for the reconstruction of European countries affected in the Second World War (1939-1945).
MOBILIZATION IN RS
Lula returned to Rio Grande do Sul on Sunday (May 5) to monitor the damage caused by the tragedy. She had a meeting with Leite and the mayor of Porto Alegre, Sebastião Melo (MDB). The presidents of the Chamber, Arthur Lira (PP-AL), and of the Senate, Rodrigo Pacheco (PSD-MG), the president of the TCU (Federal Audit Court), Bruno Dantas, and the vice-president of the STF (Supreme Court Federal), Minister Edson Fachin, participated. Another 13 of the 38 ministers as well.
On the occasion, the president said that the government will help rebuild the roads destroyed by the impacts of the rains. In his previous visit to the State, on Thursday (May 2), he said that there will be no shortage of efforts or resources on the part of the government to assist in the situation.
According to figures shared on social media by the Civil House, headed by Rui Costa, the federal Executive made R$928 million available via the Ministry of Social Development for RS:
- R$414 million: advance payment of Bolsa Família;
- R$355.7 million: BPC (Continuous Payment Benefit);
- R$50 million: PAA (Food Acquisition Programming);
- R$46 million: Rural Development;
- R$ 18.8 million: Advance and co-financing Rede Suas (Single Social Assistance System)
- R$ 18.7 million: Gas Aid;
- R$15.4 million: 97,000 basic food baskets; It is
- R$ 10 million: Shelter Assistance.
