History of Disaster Relief, South America

The geologically diverse continent of South America is subject to hurricanes, floods, droughts (especially in the arid sertao region of northern Brazil), as well as severe cold snaps and blizzards in Argentina (the southernmost country) and Peru (with the greatest altitude). The effects can be quite severe and long lasting, exacerbated by the poverty experienced by much of the South American population. Floods are the region's most common natural disaster, while droughts affect the greatest swaths [Page 299]of the population; earthquakes result in the most deaths and the most severe damage. Dealing with such disasters has long been a problem for the various governments of the South America through history. Again and again throughout the continent's pre-Columbian history, cultures fell to drought and subsequent famine ...