People affected by the worst flood disaster in South Brazil

Hello, we are Joana Colussi and Ana Hummes, postdoctoral researchers at the University of Illinois and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA-ARS), respectively, and Jonathan Oliveira, Ph.D. candidate at the University of Illinois. We are reaching out for support to aid families affected by the recent devastating floods in our home state of Rio Grande do Sul, located in Southern Brazil.

Record high rainfall has affected more than 90% of the state—an area comparable to the United Kingdom—resulting in at least 175 deaths, about 1,000 residents injured, and nearly 600,000 people displaced. More than 2 million people have been directly affected by the ongoing climate crisis in Rio Grande do Sul.

Your contributions will directly assist these families in rebuilding their lives by providing essential resources and support during this challenging time.

Thank you for considering joining us in this effort to help our beloved state recover from this natural disaster!