Floods in Rio Grande do Sul

In a situation of heavy rain and the risk of water overflowing, the Civil Defence of the State of Rio Grande do Sul advises residents of areas susceptible to flooding to adopt preventive measures to avoid life-threatening situations and damage to property:

• Stay at home if you can.
• Pay attention to the meteorological information and emergency alerts issued by the state.
• Follow the instructions of the local authorities and use the recommended evacuation routes.
• Avoid travelling to affected regions.
• If you live in a risk zone, leave it early.
• Keep important documents in plastic bags.
• When you leave, switch off the main electricity, water, and gas switches.
• Avoid crossing the areas where the water has overflowed, either by car or on foot.
• If you are stranded in an unsafe location, call the fire brigade immediately on 193.
• Fill containers with drinking water for use in the event of an interruption in access to water supply.

If you need rescue or assistance during the floods, it is important to know whom to turn to for fast and effective help. Always keep emergency numbers handy.

• Military Brigade: 190
• Fire Brigade: 193
• State Civil Defence: 199 and Chatbot/WhatsApp (51) 98401-2527
• Federal Public Defender’s Office: (61) 98352-0067 (WhatsApp) and [email protected]

1.Comeback Programme

Faced with the impact of the floods currently ravaging Rio Grande do Sul, the government has launched a new edition of the Volta por Cima Programme (Comeback Programme). On 10 May, the Official State Gazette (DOE) published Decree 57,607, which provides R$50 million for affected families. R$2,500 will be paid in a single instalment to family units made homeless or displaced because of the weather events.

The criteria were as follows:

• The person has been made homeless or displaced due to adverse climatic events that occurred between 1st January and 31st May 2024, in accordance with State Decree 57.607;
• The person lives in a municipality that has had a Decree of Emergency or Public Calamity approved by the state government;
• The person has had their registration included by the municipal Social Assistance teams on a form provided by the Comeback Programme;

The person has been listed in the Cadastro Único (Unified Registry) as being poor or extremely poor, even if the registration was made after the climatic events.

To find out if they are entitled to the benefit, citizens can use their CPF number.

For more information on the Volta por Cima benefit, go to: Volta por Cima – SOS Rio Grande do Sul (sosenchentes.rs.gov.br).

2. SOS Rio Grande do Sul Aid

The Management Committee has defined the procedures for paying SOS Rio Grande do Sul aid to families who were victims of the May 2024 floods. The programme will cover municipalities in Rio Grande do Sul with an officially approved state of public calamity. Payment of the financial aid will take place into phases, according to the amounts available and the criteria for distributing resources.

Criteria for distribution – Among the population directly affected by the meteorological events, families will be assisted if they meet the following criteria, cumulatively:

• they have been made homeless (see definition below) or displaced because of the meteorological event, or who have been left homeless or displaced but have already returned to their homes;
• they have been registered with the Single Registry for Social Programmes (CadÚnico) or the National Registry for Family Farming (CAF);
• they do not currently receive help from the Volta por Cima programme, created by Decree 57.607 of 9 May 2024; and
• their family income does not exceed three minimum wages.

The financial aid consists of a single instalment of R$2,000 (two thousand reais) per family, to be allocated to the responsible family member in the CadÚnico and used according to the beneficiaries’ needs.

For more information on SOS Rio Grande do Sul Aid, visit: How to receive pix resources – SOS Rio Grande do Sul (sosenchentes.rs.gov.br)

3.Calamity Withdrawal

The Federal Savings Bank (Caixa Econômica Federal) has so far allowed the withdrawal of the Severance Indemnity Fund (FGTS) to workers from 28 municipalities in Rio Grande do Sul affected by the heavy rains in the state.

The calamity withdrawal allows citizens to withdraw up to R$6,220.00 from each FGTS account they hold, limited to the available funds, due to urgent and serious personal need in the event of a natural disaster (flooding, landslides, heavy rain) that has affected their home, following an official declaration by their municipality’s Civil Defence.

As of 17 May, the municipalities of Santa Cruz do Sul, Venâncio Aires, Arroio do Meio, Harmonia, Lajeado, São Leopoldo, Agudo, Anta Gorda, Bom Retiro do Sul, Candelária, Encantado, Esteio, Farroupilha, Feliz, Guaíba, Jaguari, Nova Palma, Nova Santa Rita, Portão, Porto Alegre, Porto Xavier, Rolante, Santa Tereza, São Marcos, São Sebastião do Caí, Sobradinho, Taquara and Triunfo .

To request a withdrawal on the FGTS App, just click on “Request your 100% digital withdrawal” or on the lower “Withdrawals” menu and select “Request withdrawal”: Click on “Public calamity” – Enter the name of the municipality and select from the list – Select the type of proof of address and enter the postcode and house number.

The documents required for withdrawal are:

• Identity card – driving licence and passport are also accepted – front and back of the document must be sent;
• Selfie (face photo) with the same ID document appearing in the photo;
• Proof of residence in the worker’s name (electricity bill, water bill, telephone bill, gas bill, internet and/or TV bill, or credit card bill, among others) issued up to 120 days before the calamity was declared. If validation is not possible, the citizen must present a declaration from the municipality certifying that the worker is a resident in the affected area.
• Marriage Certificate or Public Deed of Stable Union if the proof of residence is under the name of the spouse or partner.

For more information, go to: Federal Savings Bank releases disaster withdrawal to cities in Rio Grande do Sul. Find out how to apply – Social Communication Secretariat (www.gov.br).

4.Anticipation of Family Allowance (Bolsa Família) in Rio Grande do Sul

For May and June, the Ministry of Development and Social Assistance, Family and Fight against Hunger (MDS) has ensured unified payment on the first calendar day to all Bolsa Família beneficiary families in Rio Grande do Sul. In May, payment will begin on Friday (May 17th).

In practice, beneficiaries in the 497 municipalities of Rio Grande do Sul will be able to use the funds without having to follow the staggered calendar according to the last digit of their Social Identification Number (NIS).

For more information, go to: Bolsa Família guaranteed in RS: enquiry and registration review suspended until December – Ministry of Development and Social Assistance, Family and Fight against Hunger (www.gov.br).

5.Reconstruction Aid

Reconstruction aid is financial support worth R$5,100.00 paid in a single instalment by the federal government to displaced or homeless families in Rio Grande do Sul.

This aid is intended for families living in flood-affected areas who have temporarily or permanently abandoned their homes in municipalities in a state of calamity or emergency.

To find out about the rules and other questions about reconstruction aid, go to: https://www.gov.br/mdr/pt-br/auxilioreconstrucao#.

If you have experienced gender-based violence in a shelter, here are some recommendations for actions you can take to ensure your safety:

• Identify a Reference Person: Identify a key person from organisations or shelter managers who can provide guidance on how to proceed in a situation of violence.
• Keep an Emergency Contact List: Keep a list of emergency contacts, including phone numbers of family members, trusted friends, and emergency services.
• Access to Free Services: Remember that health and protection services against gender-based violence in Brazil are free of charge and everyone – regardless of their nationality and whether or not they have documents – has the right to access those services.

The Ministry of Women’s Affairs has set up the following helplines:

📞 The Women’s Call Centre has a special service to receive and refer reports of violence against women during this rainy season in the state.

📲 And it has been providing information about shelters exclusively for women and children in the affected region.

You can call 180 and dial “7” or call WhatsApp at (61) 9610-0180.

In the event of discrimination, prejudice, and xenophobia, you can contact the Police Station for Combating Intolerance (DPCI) – a Civil Police body linked to the State Department for the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (DPGV) – whose activities have been temporarily suspended due to the flooding.

During this period, the DPCI has set up a number of reporting channels that can be accessed whenever human rights are being threatened. Calls can be made from all over Brazil, free of charge, from any landline or mobile phone.

• 190 Disque Denúncia (Hotline) -SSP
• 181 Civil Police Hotline
• 197 Civil Police WhatsApp
• Phone/WhatsApp (51) 98444-0606
• Online Police Station: www.dol.rs.gov.br
• www.delegaciaonline.rs.gov.br – Online Police Station website

For reliable and up-to-date information on Rio Grande do Sul, visit official communication portals such as:

• Website of the Government of the State of Rio Grande do Sul: Latest News – Portal of the State of Rio Grande do Sul
• SOS Rio Grande do Sul website of the Rio Grande do Sul Secretary of Communication: SOS Rio Grande do Sul (sosenchentes.rs.gov.br)

The Communication Crisis Office, linked to the Rio Grande do Sul Communication Secretariat, has created the Centre for Combating Disinformation, a task force to check and challenge false content related to the floods. The information is identified, monitored, and verified by a communications team. When the check is complete, the content is made available to press groups and on the government’s official website and profiles.

You can find all the materials collected on the SOS Rio Grande do Sul website:  Combating disinformation – SOS Rio Grande do Sul (sosenchentes.rs.gov.br).

1. Click on the image below to access the booklet on rights of people affected by rain in Rio Grande do Sul.

2.Click on the image to access the WhatsApp number to contact UNHCR or its partner Jesuit Migrant and Refugee Service in Rio Grande do Sul

3. Click on the image below to access information on how to consult or issue your CPF.