The Civil Defense of the state of São Paulo reported that it resumed, on Sunday afternoon (8), the crisis office for rains and landslides in the state. The initiative takes place after rainfall forecasts exceed the 100 mm mark per day, considered extremely dangerous.
Government bodies participate in the cabinet, such as regulatory agencies, Civil Defense and the Fire Department, in addition to energy, water supply, gas and telephone service concessionaires, with the aim of reducing emergency response times in the most affected cities.
“Rainfall has intensified in the last 24 hours due to the action of a low pressure system in the ocean, associated with the South Atlantic Convergence Zone (ZCAS). The highest accumulations were recorded in the East, Coast and Northwest of the state”, informed the agency.
The city of São Carlos recorded the highest volume of rain in the last 24 hours, with 137 mm, followed by Ubatuba (129 mm), Bertioga (126 mm), São Sebastião (119 mm), São José do Rio Preto (105 mm), Caraguatatuba (103 mm), Elias Fausto (100 mm) and São Luís do Paraitinga (83 mm).
“The volumes are considered extremely high for a single day. For comparison purposes, in São Carlos, the historical average of rain expected for the entire month of February is 169.9 mm. In just 24 hours, it rained around 80% of the total expected for the month, the equivalent of approximately 24 days’ rain.”
“In Ubatuba, the accumulated amount represented 72.5% of the monthly volume, while in São José do Rio Preto the total recorded corresponds to what was expected for around 15 days in February”, added the Civil Defense.
There were records of flooding, landslides and falling barriers in different regions of the state, in addition to 13 people being displaced and four homeless. There are no records of deaths or injuries.
Guidelines for the population
Civil Defense advises the population to adopt preventive measures to reduce risks during periods of intense rain, such as avoiding areas subject to flooding, flash floods and landslides.
Another recommendation is not to cross flooded streets or areas with currents, pay attention to signs of landslides, such as cracks in the ground, tilting of trees or posts and cracks on slopes, and follow official Civil Defense alerts, via telephones or sirens.
