The emergency law : is it able to create a DRM system in Brazil?

Abstract

Brazil is increasingly impacted by natural disasters, forcing the Federal Government to improve the current disaster risk management (DRM) system. After the two big disastrous events of Nova Friburgo, RJ and of Vale do Itajaí, SC, during 2011, Brazilian Congress approved a new Emergency Law which is supposed to be the cornerstone of a Brazilian DRM system. The main purpose of this paper is to investigate how much this law is able to produce effective results in this direction. The methodology adopted is the hermeneutics analysis of the law text itself and of its reference texts but focus is on its engineering concepts and on the disaster management method proposed. United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction priorities for action in the period 2005-2015 are taken as a reference. Conclusions suggest that a revision of the current Brazilian Emergency Law is needed and key aspects for this revision are described.