The mobilization of state and non-state actors in the establishment of provisional shelters in climate disasters: the case of Porto Alegre during the 2024 floods

Abstract

In 2024, the floods in Rio Grande do Sul reached 96% of its municipalities and caused 183 deaths, hundreds of injuries and thousands of displaced people (Rio Grande do Sul, 2024b). In this context, the temporary shelters for people, organized by governments, businesses, and third-sector entities, were crucial for welcoming the victims and for disaster risk management. This article maps and sociologically categorizes the shelters established in Porto Alegre, considering aspects such as: their geolocation, their service capacity and the responsible institutions. It underscores the indispensable collaboration among different social spheres to optimize resources and expedite the installation of these facilities, making them effective and inclusive. Based on an innovative classification of the shelters, which codifies the responsible institutions according to their economic activity sector, a leading role of the third sector in setting up the locations was observed, although with a lower accommodation capacity (average number of sheltered people) compared to other sectors.