ACM appeals to families to leave at-risk areas.

Bahia 247 - In a press conference this Wednesday (29), Mayor ACM Neto (DEM) made "an appeal" for residents of at-risk areas to seek the municipal government to "obtain support and secure safer housing, especially during this period when the rains are battering the capital of Bahia, and thus move away from the danger of landslides and collapses".

The Democrat called a press conference to announce the measures to be taken to assist families affected by the storm that hit Salvador on Monday (27). "Please, anyone in this situation should contact Codesal (Salvador Civil Defense) or Sindec (Infrastructure and Civil Defense Secretariat) to ensure their own safety and the safety of their family," the mayor asked.

ACM Neto highlighted that the actions will be carried out in partnership with the state and federal governments. Four teams have been assembled to operate starting today, involving the Fire Department, four social workers from the city hall, an engineer from Codesal, an engineer from the State Urban Development Company (Conder), an Army truck, and a van for transporting goods and people. 

"We will begin operations today with two teams in San Martin and two in São Caetano. Following that, they will gradually move to the other 14 areas considered most critical in the city, with one team in each location," stated the mayor.

An operational base for support staff was also set up in a building next to the 4th Police Station in São Caetano, where the teams will carry out their operational work.

The city hall also made available three properties to store the belongings of families removed from risk areas, located in Sete Portas, the Codeba warehouse (Comércio), and the Nelson Cazumbá Sports Gymnasium in Fazenda Coutos. Military police and municipal guards will be responsible for the security of the belongings. In addition, five shelters have been prepared, located in San Martin, Largo do Tanque, Bonocô, Sete Portas, and Pau da Lima, with the capacity to accommodate up to 600 people.

Other structures will be made available if necessary. According to the Secretariat for Social Promotion (Semps), 118 people are already sheltered, and those who were in municipal schools are being relocated to these new shelters or are in the process of receiving Social Rent assistance, according to each person's preference.

Granting of benefits

The City Hall also started today the payment of 'Social Rent' to 181 families already registered and the expectation is that the number will reach 300 tomorrow (30). Of the total families benefited, 31 of them are from the Pau da Lima neighborhood, 50 residents of San Martin, 37 from the Marotinho region (Bom Juá) and 46 families from Boa Vista do São Caetano.

According to the mayor, the commitment is that the benefit, worth R$300, granted for three months and renewable for an equal period, will be paid within 48 hours.

And the City Council has already approved today the bill that makes available up to three minimum wages for victims of calamities, such as landslides, collapses, fires and other tragedies. 

Federal aid and other actions

ACM Neto also stated that the Ministry of National Integration has been asked to unblock the agreement for works on 16 slopes in the capital, and another 54 will be requested from the Ministry of Cities next week. In total, 72 slopes will benefit, and all will have a contribution from the City Hall.

The affected areas will be "completely recovered." To that end, Sindec must develop a plan within 30 days for surveying and intervening in these locations, which includes slope containment and urbanization.

"Last year alone, R$467 million was invested in infrastructure, with R$200 million allocated to micro and macro drainage, stairway restoration, and canal cleaning. We intend to invest even more this year," said the mayor.