05/05/2024 – 21:24
The mayor of Porto Alegre, Sebastião Melo (MDB), suggested that residents who have homes on the coast leave the capital towards the beaches that were not as affected by the rains as the central region of Rio Grande do Sul. The suggestion aims to empty the city to assist in the circulation of rescue vehicles. According to the mayor, it is safe to travel along the RS-040 highway.
“We need to empty as much as possible, reduce circulation in Porto Alegre, because the boat, the ambulance, the trucks need to get to the right place, and when there is an accumulation of vehicles, they cannot do this. I suggested that those who have a house on the coast, which was not affected like the capital, that if they understood that they could go to the coast, it would help to empty the city a little”, he stated, highlighting that this is not an evacuation of the city.
Vice Mayor Ricardo Gomes asked those who own boats, jet-skis and jeeps to volunteer to help rescue people in flooded regions.
“There are still many people to be rescued. People who are on the third, fourth, fifth floor of flooded buildings were not prioritized at first because we were removing people with water inside their homes, but we will need to reach these people”, he said, also asking for donations of rescue equipment.
Melo warned about the impact of fake news circulating on the networks about the disaster in the capital of Rio Grande do Sul. “It is not true that the dike broke, the water overflowed, but at the moment it is level. But just because the dike didn’t break doesn’t mean people shouldn’t leave flooded areas,” said the mayor.
“We will have at least 4 or 5 days in a situation very similar to today”, he reinforced. The city hall also reported that the information that it was seizing boats without documentation was false. “All boats in the city are welcome to participate in the life-saving process. It’s better to have an undocumented boat on the street saving lives”, said the vice-mayor.
Porto Alegre has 58 reception spaces and intends to open new accommodation as more spaces become available. There are 6 thousand people sheltered, including residents of neighboring cities such as Eldorado, which does not have shelters as it does not have areas free from flooding. The estimate is that 10 thousand people have already been rescued from flooded regions.
The city hall decreed 3 days without classes in the public network and recommended that the private network also suspend classes. Bus services will be maintained partially, in areas of the capital that are not flooded. Porto Alegre airport is scheduled to reopen between May 9 and 10, according to the mayor.
Water shortage
Only two of Porto Alegre’s six water stations are in operation, but with low flow, meaning that 70% of the city is without water supply. The city also reported difficulties in treating the water. “Water arriving with high turbidity, with a lot of clay”, according to Maurício Loss, general director of the Municipal Department of Water and Sewage.
Therefore, the mayor asked residents not to waste water. “We are working all day to try to find a solution to reconnect the São João station, which serves 400 thousand people, we are trying to install a generator, but it is not easy, it is a monstrous generator, it is not easy to get to. At this moment we cannot waste a drop of water, because we have a very serious problem in the city”, said Melo.
The city hall ordered water trucks from other states to supply hospitals, nursing homes and geriatric homes. On Saturday, hospitals were supplied with oxygen.
Extraordinary budget
Melo said again that, in the meeting with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, he asked for a provisional measure (MP) or constitutional amendment project (PEC) to be drawn up so that there is a special budget for the reconstruction of areas destroyed by the rains and to make laws more flexible to guarantee financial resources quickly. The same request was made by the state governor, Eduardo Leite.
The federal government and the National Congress are discussing the preparation of a “war budget” with a relief package for Rio Grande do Sul.
“Brazil’s history in relation to disasters is a lot of announcements and little effectiveness, it has never worked, and if the current situation of various opinions is maintained, the money will never arrive”, he said. “These 6 thousand people (homeless) are unable to return to where they were”, he added, highlighting that social and supportive rental options are not sufficient, and that houses and buildings will need to be reconstructed.
The mayor spoke of a “Humanitarian PEC, which would create parameters for the use of public resources with a “presumption of good faith”, but aggravated punishment for embezzlement of money. “Anyone who embezzles resources during a humanitarian (disaster) time, the penalty must be greater”, he suggested.
Melo also asked Rio Grande do Sul congressmen to release parliamentary amendments for the reconstruction of municipalities in advance. “I am convinced that the 31 federal deputies and 3 senators from Rio Grande do Sul will release their amendments,” he said.
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