Enchentes em Alto do Rodrigues-RN ocorridas durante os anos 2008/2009: gestão de risco, impactos e memória social

Abstract

Alto do Rodrigues, a municipality in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, experienced extreme flooding events between 2008 and 2009. The region's topographical characteristics, combined with weather patterns that favor intense and prolonged rainfall, contribute significantly to the occurrence of floods affecting both the population and local infrastructure. Consequently, rainwater accumulates in urban and rural areas, causing inundations that compromise the safety and quality of life of residents. Regarding infrastructure, these events can cause severe damage to roads, bridges, and buildings, resulting in financial losses for both the public sector and the population. Furthermore, the floods cause significant losses in agriculture, one of the region's primary economic activities. In this context, preventing future flooding episodes in Alto do Rodrigues poses a major challenge, requiring integrated action from local authorities, water resource management specialists, and the community at large. Adopting medium- and long-term strategies is essential to mitigate these events, ensuring a better quality of life for the population and reducing damage to public and private assets. The study’s objectives were met by highlighting the impacts of the 2008/2009 floods in Alto do Rodrigues. The methodology adopted—based on historical analyses and climate data—yielded consistent results revealing significant damage to infrastructure, agriculture, and the population's quality of life. The conclusions pointed to the need for integrated public policies and medium- to long-term strategies. Thus, the final remarks emphasize that this work does not merely describe a past event but contributes to developing solutions aimed at preventing future episodes, thereby ensuring greater safety and well-being for the community.