Rushing Aid to Flood Survivors

The water was up to Manuel’s chin when he swam out of his home to try to wave down a rescue boat. He had watched the water rise from their upper-story window for days. He even saw the floodwaters slowly swallow up the elementary school. 

Still, he didn’t want to leave their home. Manuel and his wife had moved to Brazil about five years earlier, leaving behind everything in Venezuela for the opportunity to pursue a brighter future. The thought of having to start over once again was heart-breaking. 

But after three days without electricity, and a dwindling food and water supply, he knew it was time to go. One at a time, Manuel lifted his two young daughters above his head and carried them through the water and into the arms of first responders waiting in the boat. 

The highways of Porto Alegre in Rio Grande do Sul—Brazil’s southernmost state—had transformed into waterways. Manuel and his wife were devastated to see so many flooded homes and businesses. 

About 90 percent of Rio Grande do Sul was affected by historic rainfall earlier this year that caused deadly flooding and mudslides. When the Guaiba River rose to record heights and broke its banks, dozens of neighbourhoods were flooded in a few hours. More than 500,000 people fled their homes in search of safety. 

SERVING TOGETHER 

Manuel’s family headed to a school that had been turned into a shelter for displaced families. More than 700 shelters and distribution centres were opened at schools and other venues such as churches and athletic facilities. 

At the shelter, Manuel met members of the Samaritan’s Purse Disaster Assistance Response Team that had quickly deployed to help meet critical needs. They visited many different shelters and distributed relief items to hurting families like Manuel’s. 

“When you don’t have anything, you value everything more,” Manuel said. 

Samaritan’s Purse deployed its DC-8 and 757 cargo planes to bring emergency relief to southern Brazil. Our planes transported more than 45 tons of urgently needed items such as blankets, hygiene kits, solar lights, household water filters, and community water filtration systems. 

The shelter where Manuel and his family found refuge was organised by Pastor Fernando Borba and members of his congregation. “We knew we were going to help in some way. We need the church in this moment,” Pastor Fernando said. 

He was not only grateful for the supplies our team shared but for their encouragement during a difficult time. He said that volunteers at the shelter sometimes felt that the rest of the world had forgotten them and the flood-affected families in Rio Grande do Sul. He described the presence of the Samaritan’s Purse team as being like a “warm hug from the outside” and said they also brought “words of relief and hope.”

Manuel was grateful for the welcome his family received from Pastor Fernando when they arrived at the shelter. Through the ministry of the shelter volunteers and the Samaritan’s Purse team, Manuel was reminded that God had not forgotten him and that He is in control. 

“It’s thanks to God we’re alive and we’re together,” he said. 

SHARING THE LIVING WATER 

In addition to distributing relief items, our teams also established community water points. Most were set up at churches with heavy foot traffic so that anyone walking down the street could have access. We airlifted 10 water filtration systems that can each provide clean water for up to 10,000 people a day.

Marilia, who had been living at a friend’s home with other people displaced by the flooding, said water was a major concern. “We were having to ration it for everything. When we would wash dishes, we would put the water back in the bottle and reuse it.” 

She was relieved when one day while out on a walk she saw a line of people coming from a church courtyard. Curious, she joined it and was excited to learn people were getting clean water.

“The water system that Samaritan’s Purse gave us is not only attending to the needs of this community, but people are coming from outside the community as well,” said Pastor Ricardo Dalcin. “Tonight, I’m going to take 50 litres of clean water to people in the community.”

Pastor Ricardo regularly delivered donated clothes, bottled water, and food to about 200 people he met through his pastoral ministry. Although both his church and home flooded, his outreach in Jesus’ Name continued. 

“We are in such a beautiful time of telling people there’s still hope,” he said. 

As he told people that Samaritan’s Purse had made clean water possible and invited them to the water point, he also shared the eternal hope of Christ.

“Yesterday, I had the opportunity to evangelise to 185 people who received water. Today, they will receive water again,” he said. “If I had to give up all my material possessions to be in the position that I am today and evangelising, I would have done it much sooner.”