Over Half of Paraná Municipalities Unprepared for Climate Disasters, Audit Reveals
A recent audit by the State Audit Court (TCE-PR) has found that more than half of Paraná's 399 municipalities lack the necessary physical infrastructure and resources to effectively respond to climate disasters. The survey, which involved questionnaires sent to all municipal governments, revealed significant deficiencies in disaster preparedness across the state.
Specifically, 70.93% of municipalities do not have their own risk alert systems capable of reaching the entire population, such as public address systems, radios, or WhatsApp groups. Furthermore, 68.17% lack dedicated personnel exclusively for Civil Defense activities. The physical infrastructure is also lacking, with 60.9% of municipalities not possessing adequate facilities like equipped offices for Civil Defense. Mobility is another issue, as 50.68% do not have vehicles suitable for accessing remote areas, and 55.64% lack a dedicated phone line for citizen assistance. Additionally, 47.68% are without photographic equipment for documenting events.
These findings were part of the TCE-PR's Government Accounts Evaluation Program (Progov), which assesses the effectiveness of public policies. In 2025, the program expanded to include environmental management, covering areas like basic sanitation, natural resource protection, Civil Defense structuring, disaster prevention, and climate change adaptation. While some municipalities like Pinhais, Curitiba, and Terra Roxa received high marks, others, such as Guamiranga and Doutor Ulysses, scored very low. The TCE-PR aims to guide municipalities toward continuous improvement by setting annual performance goals, moving beyond simply evaluating financial regularity to assessing the actual effectiveness of essential public services.
This audit highlights a critical systemic gap in municipal preparedness for escalating climate-related events across Paraná. The data reveals a widespread deficit in essential infrastructure, communication systems, and dedicated personnel, suggesting that many local governments may be ill-equipped to manage the increasing frequency and intensity of natural disasters. The TCE-PR's Progov initiative, by integrating environmental management and assessing policy effectiveness, represents a forward-looking approach to public administration. By providing comparative data and setting improvement targets, the program aims to foster accountability and drive necessary investments in resilience. The wide disparity in scores between municipalities underscores the need for tailored support and resource allocation, recognizing that a one-size-fits-all solution may not adequately address diverse local vulnerabilities in the face of future climate challenges.
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