Developing Effective Disaster Mitigation Strategies in Sao Paulo: Process and Challenges‪.‬

Abstract. In Brazil and elsewhere in Latin America, recent attempts have been made to develop effective mitigation strategies to deal with natural and human disasters, especially in urban areas. This article examines the evolution and impact of one such effort undertaken in the Municipality of Sao Paulo since 1997. With support and technical assistance from the City of Toronto, Canada, and expert advice from several emergency response agencies in Brazil, Sao Paulo's Centro de Gerenciamento de Emergencias was initially envisioned as a "full-service" facility designed both to mitigate the effects of natural and man-made disasters through personnel training and enhanced warning systems and to coordinate effective event response through disaster relief programs and reconstruction/repair activities. Over time, however, CGE's mandate has become increasingly restricted, and currently functions almost exclusively as an early warning system for regional flooding. The study explores the factors underlying this outcome, and assesses the prospects for broader technical cooperation between Canada and Brazil that may help to strengthen mitigation/disaster relief strategies throughout Brazil and elsewhere in Latin America. Resume. Au Bresil et ailleurs en Amerique latine, des tentatives recentes ont ete faites de developper des strategies effectives d'attenuation de desastres naturels et humains, particulierement en zones urbaines. Cet article examine l'evolution et l'impact d'un de ces efforts entrepris dans la municipalite de Sao Paolo depuis 1997. Avec le soutien et l'assistance technique de la ville de Toronto au Canada, et l'avis d'experts de plusieurs agences de secours au Bresil, le Centro de Gerenciamento de Emergencias (CGE) de Sao Paolo a initialement ete envisage comme une structure de " plein services " concu a la fois pour mitiger les effets de desastres naturels et humains grace a un entrainement personnalise et des systemes d'avertissement ameliores, et pour coordonner de facon effective les reactions aux evenement a travers les programmes de reponses au desastres et les activites de reconstruction/reparation. Neanmoins, le mandat du CGE s'est restreint avec le temps, et actuellement il agit presque exclusivement comme systeme de premiere alerte pour les inondations regionales. Cette etude explore les facteurs qui expliquent ce resultat, et evalue les possibilites d'une cooperation technique plus vaste entre le Canada et le Bresil qui pourrait aider a fortifier les strategies d'attenuation et de soulagement de desastres au Bresil et ailleurs en Amerique latine.