Ministers present balance of federal measures in support of Rio Grande do Sul

On his first day ahead of the Brazilian government’s Extraordinary Secretariat in Support of the Reconstruction of Rio Grande do Sul (Secretaria Extraordinária da Presidência da República de Apoio à Reconstrução do Rio Grande do Sul), Minister Paulo Pimenta joined the ministers of Integration and Regional Development (Desenvolvimento Regional) Waldez Góes and Transport (Transportes), Renan Filho, to present an assessment of the Federal Government's actions in support of the state.

This ministry will work hard with state and municipal governments to deliver on President Lula’s commitment to mobilize all of the Federal Government’s resources in support of the people of Rio Grande do Sul at this dramatic time
PAULO PIMENTA
Minister of the Brazilian government’s Extraordinary Secretariat in Support of the Reconstruction of Rio Grande do Sul

"This ministry will work hard with state and municipal governments to deliver on President Lula’s commitment to mobilize all of the Federal Government’s resources in support of the people of Rio Grande do Sul at this dramatic time," said Pimenta during a live broadcast on social media, directly from Porto Alegre.

Pimenta also highlighted the set of measures that the Federal Government announced yesterday. Families who have lost their homes will have facilitated access to the Minha Casa, Minha Vida (MCMV) program, taking advantage of recently built housing that can be immediately occupied in the affected municipalities. “Everyone who earns up to BRL 4,400 and who lost their homes will be granted a new property from the Federal Government, up to phases I and II of Minha Casa Minha Vida,” he said.

A cash transfer of BRL 5,100 (Reconstruction Aid/Auxílio Reconstrução) was implemented so that people may purchase household goods to replace those lost to the floods. An estimated 240,000 families will benefit from this measure, which is part of a BRL 1.2 billion investment.
Pimenta also noted that the ministries of Health (Saúde) and Education (Educação) have been collecting municipal damage reports for over a week. The minister underscored that affected local governments should contact those ministries to present their reconstruction work plans.

ROADS AND HIGHWAYS — Renan Filho commented on the flood damage to the state's road and highway infrastructure. "Altogether, there were 70 points of complete interruption, with 28 now fully restored and 12 partially restored and closely watched. In some areas, escort vehicles are needed, because the situation is still serious and only escorted traffic is allowed—but food, oxygen tanks, medicine and fuel can be transported along these roads," said the minister.

Altogether, there were 70 points of complete interruption, with 28 now fully restored and 12 partially restored and closely watched. In some areas, escort vehicles are needed, because the situation is still serious and only escorted traffic is allowed—but food, oxygen tanks, medicine and fuel can be transported along these roads
RENAN FILHO
Minister of Transport

Regarding the flow of traffic along the highways, the minister reported that BR-290 has no interruption points, while BR-153 is open up to Cachoeira do Sul. The section of BR-116 that leads to the south of the state has been restored, but still has two blockages to the north. An estimated date for resuming flights at Salgado Filho Airport will not be possible until water levels recede, said the minister of Transport.

WORK PLANS — Minister Waldez Góes highlighted the federal response to the demands of municipalities affected by the floods. "The Federal Government has approved 249 work plans. Altogether, 156 municipalities have already been served by these plans, with almost BRL 200 million in resources for humanitarian aid, " he said.

Góes also explained that local governments may request water removal and neighborhood cleaning operations in work plans sent to the Ministry of Integration and Regional Development (Ministério da Integração e do Desenvolvimento Regional).

STUDIES — The ministers also highlighted that President Lula ordered the preparation of disaster prevention plans, under the leadership of Minister Renan Filho, to prevent calamities like the floods in Rio Grande do Sul.
"First, we are going to help people and resolve the emergency crisis. Then we are going to examine what has been done and what needs to be done so that when there is heavy rain, we won't go through what’s been happening in Rio Grande do Sul," said Filho.

The Federal Government has commissioned three studies. "The first one asks the following question: how can we retain part of the water in the high lands before it descends? The second is: how can we drain the Guaíba and Patos basins faster when water begins to rise again. What are the exits? There are several hypotheses that will be raised by the experts. The third is: what infrastructure needs to be built considering the need to rebuild existing dikes but also account for city growth?" explained the minister.