Ministry declares state of emergency in ten Brazilian towns

The Ministry of National Integration declared state of emergency in ten Brazilian towns. One of them is the capital of Amapá state, Macapá, after the Araguari river overflowed and affected families living in the town of Bailique.

The measure was published in the Federal Register this Thursday (Mar. 9) and covers nine other towns. Two of them—Bauru and Bofete, in São Paulo state—were declared due to the heavy rains. Other four municipalities were declared state of emergency due to the floods: Itamarati (Amazonas state), Eirunepé (Amazonas state), Água Doce do Norte (Espírito Santo state) and Ribeirão Grande (São Paulo state). In Trairão (Pará state), Nova Santa Rita (Rio Grande do Sul state), and Boçorocas, in Aparecida de Goiânia (Goiás state), the state of emergency was declared due to the flash floods that occurred there.

As the state of emergency was declared, these towns may request material and financial support from the National Secretariat for Civil Protection and Defense (SEDEC). To qualify for government assistance, towns must submit a work plan. After SEDEC carries out a technical analysis, the ministry will define the amount of resources to be allocated.

Translated by Amarílis Anchieta