Civil Defense alert was successfully used in São Paulo, says Waldez Góes.
Early warning system proved effective during heavy rains in São Paulo; National Civil Defense monitors impacts and assists authorities.
247 - Last Friday (24), around 16 pm, residents of São Paulo were surprised by messages and sound alerts on their cell phones warning about the risks of heavy rains hitting the capital. The Civil Defense Alert system, a new technology developed by the National Civil Defense, was used for the first time in the city, marking a significant advance in disaster prevention and management actions in Brazil, according to information from Agência Gov.
The state Civil Defense issued the following alert: “Heavy rain spreading across the capital of São Paulo, with gusts of wind and risk of flooding. Stay in a safe place.” In three hours, the capital recorded a total of 122 mm of rain, with numerous cases of flooding, landslides, and fallen trees. So far, there is no information about victims, and teams from the National Civil Defense continue to monitor the situation in conjunction with local authorities.
In an interview, the Minister of Integration and Regional Development, Waldez Góes, highlighted the importance of the new early warning system. “The weather warning issued in the morning by the National Institute of Meteorology (Inmet) was at the yellow level. As the situation intensified, the Civil Defense of São Paulo acted quickly, issuing three alerts via SMS before triggering the severe level alert at 15:57 PM. I can safely say that the system was used appropriately and pertinently in the city of São Paulo,” stated Góes.
Cutting-edge technology within everyone's reach.
The Civil Defense Alert system uses the cellular network to send free alerts, accompanied by audible warnings that override any active content on devices, even in silent mode. The technology, which initially covers the South and Southeast regions of Brazil, is unique in that it sends alerts to high-risk areas with 4G or 5G network coverage, without requiring prior user registration.
The system was previously tested in 11 Brazilian municipalities over a 30-day period. Demonstration alerts were also sent to 36 cities in Rio Grande do Sul and Belo Horizonte. Since its implementation, cities such as Petrópolis (RJ), Vitória (ES), and Campinas (SP) had already benefited from the new technology during episodes of heavy rainfall in December of last year.
National expansion in 2025
According to Minister Waldez Góes, the goal is to expand the system to the North, Northeast, and Central-West regions by 2025. "We are taking the first steps to ensure that this tool is available throughout the country, expanding our capacity to protect lives and mitigate the impacts of extreme weather events," the minister highlighted during a meeting with representatives of state civil defense agencies.
The effectiveness of the Civil Defense Alert system in São Paulo reinforces the potential of this technology as a fundamental pillar in disaster prevention and the protection of the Brazilian population.
