São José do Norte and Capão do Leão declare emergency after heavy rains

The municipalities of São José do Norte and Capão do Leão in Brazil have declared states of emergency following intense rainfall and strong winds. In São José do Norte, some areas recorded over 210 to 230 millimeters of rain within a short period, a volume that exceeds the historical average for the entire month of August.

The heavy precipitation has caused significant damage to both urban and rural infrastructure, including roads, bridges, and paving. In the rural areas of São José do Norte, damaged roads and culverts have disrupted school transportation, forcing the suspension of classes at six municipal schools. The agricultural sector, particularly onion farming, has suffered significant losses, which may allow farmers to access federal support programs.

In Capão do Leão, the impacts are concentrated in rural areas. Authorities have preemptively closed the Moreira Road bridge due to structural concerns identified by the Civil Defense and municipal services departments.