Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil - May 14, 2024

[Note: partially no sound]

Storyline:
Brazil has launched a full-scale relief response following massive flooding in the southern Rio Grande do Sul state triggered by record rainfall, with the government, military and broader society all devoting resources and manpower.

At least 149 people have died in Rio Grande do Sul, a top agricultural and livestock producer that borders Argentina and Uruguay, since extreme weather hit the region at the end of April.

In response to the devastating floods, the Brazilian federal government has announced a rescue package totaling 50.9 billion reais (about 9.91 billion U.S. dollars) to support affected residents, businesses and the state government as they grapple with the aftermath of the disaster.

Several other Brazilian states have launched their own initiatives to support the impacted area, and Rio Grande do Sul's civil defense department is working hard to deliver relief supplies to the flooding victims.

At a state government distribution center, over 1,000 volunteers are distributing supplies donated from across the country and packing them for flood victims. These supply kits will then be delivered free of charge to the flood-affected population through the Brazilian postal service.

The Brazilian military is also participating in the disaster relief effort and working closely with civil defense, firefighting and other government departments.

Over 17,000 soldiers have been deployed to assist in the relief efforts. Their tasks have included clearing roads, transporting relief supplies, and conducting search and rescue operations for flood victims.

A Brazilian Air Force military airport located in Canoas, one of the cities hit hardest by the flood, is allowing civilian planes to land and drop off relief supplies while dispatching its own military planes to participate in the relief process.

Shotlist:
Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil - May 14, 2024:
1. Buildings, vehicles, trees inundated by water;
2. Various of distribution center, supplies, volunteers;
3. Various of volunteers packing supplies;
4. SOUNDBITE (Portuguese) Sabrina Ribas, head, Social Communication Division, Civil Defense Department, Rio Grande do Sul (ending with shot 5):
"The volunteers are working to assess each city's need for relief supplies and sending the information to the civil defense department, which then provides assistance to those cities. The distribution center here in Porto Alegre has already helped 40 cities.";
5. Volunteers packing, distributing supplies;
6. Various of boxes of supplies, volunteers working;
7. SOUNDBITE (Portuguese) Colonel Maravilha, commander, military airport located in Canoas City (full name not given) (partially overlaid with shot 8):
"The Air Force's involvement in this disaster relief is unprecedented. It's a multidisciplinary effort that involves great manpower. All of this is for one important goal -- to save lives and preserve dignity.";
[SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]
8. Helicopter flying;
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9. Truck, lawn.

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