Nearly 100 people have died and more than 200,000 have been left homeless since April 29, when heavy rains that have already accumulated an incredible 800 mm – the equivalent of 800 liters of water per square meter – fell on Rio Grande do Sul, the southernmost state in Brazil, which is the size of Italy, borders Argentina, and is almost at the tip of South America.

Thousands of volunteers helped the nearly 800,000 people who have been affected in some way by the storms, without the official civil defense system of Rio Grande do Sul being able to assist the people who have been isolated on the roofs of their own homes in a predictable tragedy. Last year, this civil defense system had an annual budget of less than $10,000, or 10 cents per inhabitant.

A red alert was issued for more heavy rains in some areas of the state, which has a population of 11.2 million, about a million more than the United Arab Emirates. 

Roads and highways in the state have been closed due to river flooding, dam breaches, or precautionary measures taken by authorities.