Percepção de risco em áreas de inundação na cidade de Santa Rita, Paraíba.

Abstract

The growth of urban systems and the increase in population density have contributed to the construction of natural disaster risks resulting in major impacts on these systems. This paper studies on a regional scale the municipality of Santa Rita in the state of Paraiba and the problems related to flooding in the urban area, dating from the years 1641, caused by the floods of North Paraiba River and its tributaries, ruining crops floodplain, which currently are inhabited. The aim of this study is to analyze the areas of risk and potential vulnerability causing the studied areas. The methodological procedures of the study are based on literature surveys of international decrees for disaster containment worldwide, Municipal Civil Defense manuals, information collected through site visits, verbal communication with residents, visual record of elements that show the major environmental problems of the area, in addition to the use of topographic maps. Through bibliographical study we perceive as risk areas become vulnerable by human action as a consequence of incorrect managements of natural resources, transforming the spaces and providing thus occurrence of natural hazards.