The State of Rio de Janeiro has introduced a new contingency plan to strengthen its response to drought, water shortages and forest fires, as officials prepare for heightened risks linked to El Niño and the dry winter season.
The plan was presented on Tuesday, July 7, by the Government of the State of Rio de Janeiro through the State Secretariat of Civil Defense and the Military Fire Department of the State of Rio de Janeiro at the corporation’s General Command Headquarters.
The launch also included the formal creation of the Integrated Risk Management Group and the activation of the State Situation Room. Both measures form part of Rio de Janeiro’s State Strategic Plan for Preparedness and Response to the Impacts of El Niño.
The measures are designed to expand the state’s prevention, monitoring and response capacity for climate-related incidents. Authorities said drought, water scarcity and forest fires are part of the annual climate cycle, but El Niño can intensify these conditions by extending periods of low humidity, reducing rainfall and increasing the risk of fires spreading through vegetation.
The State Contingency Plan (PLANCON) sets out guidelines for integrated action by agencies within the State System of Civil Protection and Defense. It defines protocols, responsibilities and procedures for actions before, during and after drought, water shortage and forest fire events.
PLANCON establishes six response levels, from Response Level 0 to Response Level 5, based on the severity of the incident and the level of operational mobilization required.
Scenario levels will be determined using information from the Rio de Janeiro State Center for Monitoring and Alerts of Natural Disasters, operational wildfire records, impact assessments and the response capacity of municipalities.
From Response Level 3 onward, the plan becomes operational, with additional coordination and support structures activated under the monitoring of the State Center for Disaster Situation Management.
The newly established Integrated Risk Management Group will operate as a permanent structure to improve coordination between state agencies responsible for disaster prevention, preparedness and response. Its role will include continuous analysis of risk scenarios, sharing strategic information and supporting decision-making across Civil Defense, the Fire Department and partner institutions.
The State Situation Room will support continuous monitoring of meteorological, hydrological and geological conditions, as well as wildfire-related indicators. Officials said the room will enable real-time tracking of changing risk scenarios, consolidate technical information and support faster operational decisions during critical situations.
Although monitoring is carried out throughout the year, the contingency plan has been structured for the winter period, when rainfall typically decreases and forest fire incidents rise across parts of the state.
The plan also provides for training, simulated exercises and capacity-building activities to improve the readiness of teams involved in disaster prevention, preparedness and response.
