In addition to the trail of rain destruction in southern Bahia, storms have been punishing northern Minas Gerais since October. According to the state secretary for Social Development, Elizabeth Jucá, the government has carried out prevention work since last year.
However, in an interview with CNN Radio this Friday (31), she assessed that the volume “of rain was greater than we were prepared for.”
A strategic group, according to her, coordinated by the Civil Defense updates the situation in the municipalities in real time – at least 20 cities were heavily affected – so that aid is directed “as soon as possible.”
“We are taking food baskets, humanitarian aid, cleaning material, mattresses and water and supporting municipalities for shelters and temporary accommodation,” he said.
Elizabeth stated that the Civil Defense made a projection and invested in prevention courses together with the municipalities, “but a rain like this is difficult, it’s different, no matter how much prevention there is, it came bigger.”
Another concern is with the dams in Minas Gerais: “We are monitoring all of them, we have been working for a long time to remove people, make drainage, since Brumadinho we have a lot of attention and we monitor them in real time.”
The forecast for New Year’s Eve is for rain in Minas Gerais and the secretary left a recommendation for the population: “Stay at home, not only because of the rain, but also because of the pandemic.”
Reference: CNN Brasil