Resilient Recovery: Enhancing Disaster Preparedness
OVERVIEW
An incredible delegation from Brazil visited New Orleans from April 12–16, 2025, to explore the theme Resilient Recovery: Enhancing Disaster Preparedness. Composed of senior leaders and technical experts in environmental protection, infrastructure, public health, energy, and governance from Rio Grande do Sul, the group examined cross-sector strategies that strengthen community resilience before, during, and after disaster events. Their program featured meetings with civic coalitions like Together Louisiana highlighting solar-powered resiliency hubs as well as investigative leaders like Sandy Rosenthal of Levees.org, who exposed the truth behind Hurricane Katrina’s levee failures. At Tulane University’s ByWater Institute, participants explored cutting-edge research in flood mitigation, climate adaptation, and post-disaster recovery. Through this immersive exchange, Brazilian delegates engaged with Louisiana’s unique disaster response landscape, drawing connections between civic engagement, scientific expertise, and policy innovation to inform resilient governance back home.
PARTICIPANTS
LILIANI CAFRUNI
Director of Environment and Sustainability, Rio Grande do Sul Sanitation Company (Corsan)
JOEL GOLDENFUM
Executive Secretary, Scientific Committee on Climate Adaptation and Resilience of the State of Rio Grande do Sul
BRUNO VANUZZI
Head of Porto Alegre Municipal Water and Sewage Department
DAIANE MENEZES
Subsecretary for Structuring Projects, Secretariat for Reconstruction of Rio Grande do Sul
RODRIGO HUGUENIN
Director, Department of Energy at the Secretariat of the Environment and infrastructure- RS
GABRIEL RITTER
Technical Director, Rio Grande do Sul’s State Environmental Protection Foundation
DIANE SORDI
Technical Expert, Justice of Labor, Regional Labor Court – Fourth Region
NADINE ANFLOR
State Deputy of Rio Grande do Sul
FELIPE TEIXEIRA
Environmental Defense Prosecutor of Porto Alegre, Public Prosecutor’s Office of the State of Rio Grande do Sul
CAPITAO MARTIM
State Deputy, Legislative Assembly of Rio Grande do Sul
