Recent catastrophic floods in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, have left a trail of devastation. With a death toll exceeding 90 and many still missing, the country grapples with the aftermath of this historic climate disaster. To understand public perception of this tragic Brazil flooding, a survey was conducted by Real Research, an online survey app, revealing some interesting insights.

Key Findings:

  • Nearly half (44.38%) believe more aid is needed for rescue and relief efforts in the Brazil flooding.
  • 71% believe climate change contributed significantly to the severity of the Brazil floods.
  • Over 95% anticipate negative economic repercussions, with half expecting a severe impact.

Flooding in Brazil

Over 70% of respondents were aware of the Brazil flooding. This awareness translates into a strong belief that more support is needed for rescue and relief efforts, with 44.38% advocating for increased aid.

relief-efforts-enough-to-handle-the-Brazil-flooding
Figure 1: Are the rescue and relief efforts enough to handle the Brazil flooding?

Was It Climate Change?

Climate experts attribute the extreme weather conditions to a rare combination of hotter-than-average temperatures, high humidity, and strong winds, intensified by climate change. This aligns with the strong belief (71.24%) among respondents that climate change contributed to the severity of the Brazil flooding.

Furthermore, the survey reveals public frustration with a perceived lack of investment in flood prevention measures. Nearly 70% believe sufficient infrastructure investment could have mitigated the disaster’s impact. 

Read Also: Do You Think Flood Risks Are Increasing Around the World?

Brazil’s Economy Took a Hit

The Brazil flooding has impacted critical infrastructure, disrupted grain deliveries to the port, and interrupted the soy harvest. Consequently, JP Morgan economists predict a modest dent in GDP growth and increased inflation.

impact-of-the-flooding-in-Brazil
Figure 2: Severity of the impact of the flooding in Brazil on the country’s economy

According to the survey findings, the economic repercussions of the Brazil floods are a major concern. Over 95% anticipate a negative impact (from severe to moderate), with half of the respondents believing the impact will be severe.

Read Also: UAE’s Flood Battle: Tackling Drainage Challenges in the Desert Nation

Will the Government Fix Things?

Despite the devastation, a sense of hope emerges about rebuilding efforts. With President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s federal aid promise for the state, in what is considered its worst-ever climate disaster, over 65% expressed faith in the government’s ability to rebuild infrastructure.

Trust-in-the-governments-ability-to-rebuild-infrastructure
Figure 3: Trust in the government’s ability to rebuild infrastructure

The final survey findings showcase a near three-way tie regarding priorities for addressing the crisis.  Providing immediate aid to affected communities, implementing preventative measures for future floods, and holding those responsible accountable all received significant support (around 32-35% each).

Methodology

 
Survey TitleSurvey on the Deadly Floods in Southern Brazil
DurationMay 10 – May 18, 2024
Number of Participants5,000
DemographicsMales and females, aged 21 to 99
Participating Countries Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Benin, Bolivia,… Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, China (Hong Kong) China (Macao), China (Taiwan), Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Greanada, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Ivory Coast, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Libya, Lithuania, Malaysia, Maldives, Maluritania, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar [Burma], Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zimbabwe.