Flood Journal Entry

Brazil Swamped by Floods (May 18, 2009)

After weeks of heavy rain, raging floods left about 300,000 people homeless in usually dry northeastern Brazil. At least 40 people were killed in the region's worst floods in decades. Floods and mudslides swamped roads and cut-off dozens of towns. Swollen rivers are also causing trouble across the border in Colombia, where forty-five people died in recent floods.

Northeastern Brazil typically has an arid climate with little rain. But this year has not been typical. The region has been hammered by a month of nearly nonstop rain. The state of Piaui has been hit especially hard. The state's governor declared an emergency for 19 cities and towns to get help for flood victims. Floods raged in the states of Maranhao, Ceara, and Bahia as well. Rivers also overflowed their banks in the Amazonas. Water from the swollen Rio Negro spilled into the streets of the capital Manaos.

It's a very different story in southern Brazil, which is suffering though its worst drought in 80 years. Recently, a drought emergency was declared for over 100 cities and towns in the region.