Abstract
There is an exponential increase in environmental disasters around the globe. In Brazil, in May/June 2024, the southern region was hit by the biggest climate catastrophe recorded in 80 years, with floods, landslides, deaths, destruction of nature and the economy. The research presented here had the objective of investigating the processes of disaster risk management carried out in the states of Rio Grande do Sul and Amazonas and the existence of technologies to cope. We use qualitative research based on interviews with public policy managers and focus group workers, bibliographic research and documentary research. The survey includes participants who have been hit by the floods, some with loss of their property. We found the collapse of the health service network due to the loss of its equipment (health centers and hospitals affected by the waters) and reduced number of professionals with work overload and emotional and physical exhaustion. In relation to technologies for prevention and/or protection action, a shortage of technologies was observed, the collapse in the electrical network of the cities caused a total loss of communication, isolating municipalities and populations for days. In Brazil, in situations of socio-environmental disasters, the actions are punctual, starting during the occurrence of the event and continuing to be discontinued after the disaster ends. The climate catastrophe of May/June 2024 in Brazil caused a movement by the government and society that is expected to be more fruitful in order to plan prevention, mitigation, and adaptation actions.
Presenters
Maria Isabel Barros BelliniProfessor, Social Work, Sociology and Political Science, Pontifical Catholic University - School of Public Health, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Disaster risk management, Technologies, Disaster prevention/mitigation
