Urban chaos perception, floods and repercussions on public polities in São Paulo metropolitan area

Abstract

Nowadays, investigation on environmental risk perception is very popular among urban phenomena researchers. Generally, in Brazilian society, there is a belief that the more important large cities geo-ecological problems are connected to non-planned urban expansion. However, this perception is not very clear and changes constantly, according to new events. In the case of São Paulo Metropolitan Area, the hydrometeorological risks are considered serious problems and call attention of governments. In this paper we analyzed the decisions mechanisms and the public policies adopted to control urban chaos, after a great flooding episode. There are the situations that literally paralyze a daily rhythm of a metropolis like São Paulo. We mention in this approach, the cases when interruptions of the transportation systems, of products and people's circulation, material and financial damages and, finally, great number of victims occur. Climatological data is confronted to society's risk perception and also to the decisions taken by the governments in these cases. Thus, the objectives of this paper were to contribute to urban planning improvements, to the management of shared waters process and also to provide indicators for better analysis and management of these resources.