Perceived impacts of natural disasters in the Serrana Region of Rio de Janeiro, as reported by members of support organisations

Authors

  • Ana Luiza de Oliveira Maia Master’s Degree in Environmental Technology, Professor, School of Industrial Metallurgical Engineering of Volta Redonda, Federal Fluminense University, Volta Redonda, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4480-4962
  • Roberta Fernanda da Paz de Souza Paiva PhD in Economic Development, Professor, School of Industrial Metallurgical Engineering of Volta Redonda, Federal Fluminense University, Volta Redonda, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5856-822X
  • Givanildo de Góis PhD in Environmental and Forestry Sciences, Post-Doctoral Researcher, Federal University of Acre, Floresta Campus in Cruzeiro do Sul, Cruzeiro do Sul, Acre, Brazil
  • Paulo Miguel de Bodas Terassi PhD in Geography, Visiting Professor, Federal University for Latin American Integration (Unila), Foz do Iguaçu, Paraná, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8184-0348

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18472/SustDeb.v16n3.2025.58184

Keywords:

Human well-being, Extreme events, Public policies, Risks

Abstract

This study sought to identify, from the perspectives of representatives of associations supporting disaster-affected individuals, the impacts of natural disasters on municipalities in the Mountain Region of Rio de Janeiro and the response mechanisms employed. Qualitative analysis of questionnaire responses from these representatives revealed impacts across health, education, leisure, safety, and
the economy. Notable issues included mental health problems in adults and children, difficulties in providing adequate shelter and housing – both for directly affected and at-risk populations – economic losses, and a pervasive sense of insecurity regarding the risk of further events. Representatives emphasised that public authorities should respond effectively through urban planning, disaster prevention, and the strengthening of health and education services to adequately support affected
populations in the short, medium, and long term.

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Author Biographies

Ana Luiza de Oliveira Maia, Master’s Degree in Environmental Technology, Professor, School of Industrial Metallurgical Engineering of Volta Redonda, Federal Fluminense University, Volta Redonda, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Professor at the School of Industrial and Metallurgical Engineering of Volta Redonda at the Fluminense Federal University (UFF), affiliated with the Department of Agribusiness Engineering (a program recognized by CREA as Agroindustrial Production Engineering). She teaches three courses: Market Analysis of Agroindustrial Products; Organization of Brazilian and Global Agribusiness; and Environmental, Agrarian, and Agroindustrial Legislation. She holds a degree in Agroindustrial Production Engineering from the same institution. During her undergraduate studies, she participated in a scientific initiation project, published an article, and received a CAPES scholarship as a teaching monitor. She completed the program with no failed courses, achieving a Grade Point Average (CR) of 7.5, and took part in a six-month academic exchange program at the University of Salamanca (USAL) in Spain. She holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Technology from UFF and is a CAPES scholarship recipient. She completed a teaching internship and conducted research focused on the socioeconomic impacts of global climate change, resulting in published articles. She is currently a special doctoral student in Production Engineering at UNESP – Guaratinguetá.

Roberta Fernanda da Paz de Souza Paiva, PhD in Economic Development, Professor, School of Industrial Metallurgical Engineering of Volta Redonda, Federal Fluminense University, Volta Redonda, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the Federal University of Juiz de Fora (2002), a Master’s degree in Applied Economics from the Federal University of Viçosa (2005), and a PhD in Economic Development from UNICAMP (2010). She is currently an associate professor at Fluminense Federal University, a faculty member of the Graduate Program in Environmental Technology at UFF, and Coordinator of the Lato Sensu Distance Specialization Program in Sanitary and Environmental Engineering. She has experience in Economics, with an emphasis on Natural Resource Economics, and has worked primarily in the following areas: Ecological Economics, water resources, and environmental valuation.

Givanildo de Góis, PhD in Environmental and Forestry Sciences, Post-Doctoral Researcher, Federal University of Acre, Floresta Campus in Cruzeiro do Sul, Cruzeiro do Sul, Acre, Brazil

He holds a Bachelor's degree in Meteorology from the Federal University of Alagoas (2003) and a Master’s degree in Agricultural Meteorology from the Federal University of Viçosa (2005). He earned his PhD in Environmental and Forest Sciences from the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro (2017). He is a Postdoctoral Researcher supported by CAPES (PNPD), Process: 88887.748939/2022-00, under the project Environmental Changes in the Southwestern Amazon (Call n. 16/2022 – PDPG Strategic Postdoctoral Program), within the Graduate Program in Environmental Sciences at the Federal University of Acre (UFAC), Forest Campus in Cruzeiro do Sul. He has also completed other PNPD/CAPES postdoctoral fellowships, including Process 88882.306104/2013-01 (migrated – SACPAIS) under CAPES Call n. 086/2013, at the Graduate Program in Environmental Technology, Fluminense Federal University, School of Industrial Metallurgical Engineering of Volta Redonda (UFF); and Process 88887.612356/2021-00 under the PDPG-AMAZÔNIA LEGAL Program, within the Graduate Program in Geography of the Federal University of Rondônia (UNIR). He is a member of the Applied Geotechnology in Agriculture and Forestry Group (GAAF) of the State of Mato Grosso (UNEMAT): http://pesquisa.unemat.br/gaaf/equipe. He has experience in Geosciences, with emphasis on Meteorology, working mainly on the following topics: environment, statistics, drought, and desertification.

Paulo Miguel de Bodas Terassi, PhD in Geography, Visiting Professor, Federal University for Latin American Integration (Unila), Foz do Iguaçu, Paraná, Brazil

Paulo Miguel de Bodas Terassi holds a PhD in Physical Geography (Sciences) from the University of São Paulo (2019). He earned a Bachelor's degree in Geography from the State University of Maringá (2012). He also obtained two Master's degrees in Geography: one with a concentration in Environmental Analysis  from the State University of Maringá (2015), and another with a concentration in the Production of Geographic Space from São Paulo State University (UNESP), Presidente Prudente campus (2015). He completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Vale Institute of Technology for Sustainable Development (ITV-DS) in 2021, during which he conducted research with the Environmental Geology and Water Resources Group (GGARH). More recently, he completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of São Paulo (USP) from 2022 to 2024, during which he developed the research project "Variability and trends in rainfall dynamics in the Legal Amazon: an analysis using observational data and orbital products". Since 2023, he has been a Visiting Professor at the Federal University for Latin American Integration (UNILA) in Foz do Iguaçu (PR), teaching courses in Undergraduate and Graduate Geography programs, as well as in Civil Engineering and Energy Engineering. His current research focuses on extreme rainfall events in the Itaipu Lake region, using observational data and orbital products. He is also affiliated with research conducted by the Laboratory for Studies on Society–Atmosphere Interactions (LISA) at the State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ) and by the Research Group on Geoprocessing Applied to Studies of Environments Affected by Water Scarcity in Latin America (GOTA) at UNILA.

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Published

2025-12-28

How to Cite

Maia, A. L. de O., Paiva, R. F. da P. de S., Góis, G. de, & Terassi, P. M. de B. (2025). Perceived impacts of natural disasters in the Serrana Region of Rio de Janeiro, as reported by members of support organisations. Sustainability in Debate, 16(3), 130–160. https://doi.org/10.18472/SustDeb.v16n3.2025.58184

Issue

Vol. 16 No. 3 (2025): Sustainability in Debate

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Dossier

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