Brazil Flood Relief
May 2024 – September 2024
Last updated: October 2024
AHAH responded to severe flooding in south Brazil, marking our first relief effort in the country. The floods severely affected Rio Grande do Sul, displacing nearly 600,000 people and damaging critical infrastructure. We provided immediate relief assisting with mud removal and cleanup, and collaborated with local organizations for effective volunteer coordination and essential supplies distribution.
Our Work
All Hands and Hearts (AHAH) acted swiftly in response to the devastating flooding in South Brazil. Our Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) was on the ground within a week, marking our first relief effort in the country. AHAH provided relief to individuals and families grappling with the flood’s aftermath, taking immediate action to assist with the extensive need for mud removal and other cleanup efforts. Until the end of September 2024, we maximized our impact in the region with local organizations by supporting volunteer coordination, meal preparation and building activities to ensure efficient, community-driven relief efforts.
Current Activities
After nearly four months of recovery efforts in south Brazil, AHAH is concluding its on the ground work. The team completed mucking, gutting, sanitizing and clearing debris from 80 flood-damaged homes, many of which were completely submerged during the flooding.
In collaboration with local relief organization Sailors, AHAH responded to a critical community need: building beds for families still sleeping on the floors of their flood-ravaged homes. The team built 1,015 beds — far exceeding expectations. Sailors even delivered beds by boat to isolated islands severely impacted by the floods.
At IMAIS (Mais Kitchen), AHAH facilitated 448 hours of community engagement, providing psychosocial support through art and English lessons for youth and adults.
Disaster Profile
After unprecedented rainfall began on April 29, severe flooding struck south Brazil and parts of Uruguay, leaving 46 of 96 neighborhoods in Porto Alegre, the capital of Rio Grande do Sul, completely submerged. The disastrous flooding resulted in 169 casualties, displaced nearly 600,000 people and affected over two million inhabitants, marking Brazil’s worst flooding in over 80 years. Infrastructure, including many roads and bridges, was heavily damaged, making access to and across Porto Alegre unpredictable.
All Hands and Hearts ©2024
