Santa Catarina readies flood-control dams amid El Niño threat

State civil‑defense officials say the main flood‑prevention dams in the Vale do Itajaí will be fully operational within 60 days. The Ituporanga dam is already "100 % operational and functional remotely," the Taió dam is "100 % operational with local control," and the José Boiteux dam is under maintenance and is expected to be functional by the end of July. The government has allocated R$ 227 million for monitoring and prevention, including 172 meteorological stations, the desiltation of 350 km of rivers, and emergency stockpiles for affected municipalities.

The region faces heightened risk of intense rains and above‑average temperatures in spring, especially October‑November, due to the El Niño phenomenon. Analysts warn that unfinished flood‑mitigation works could leave many towns vulnerable. A recent TCE/SC study found that 207 of Santa Catarina’s 295 municipalities are susceptible to landslides, flash floods and inundations, placing the state second nationally in disaster‑risk rankings. The reports call for accelerated execution of infrastructure projects rather than reliance on declarations and media imagery.