The Municipality of Asunción is preparing two large plots of land to serve as temporary refuges in case of flooding caused by the El Niño phenomenon, explicitly ruling out the use of squares and avenues in the capital for this purpose. The municipality's Risk Management Directorate identified the Copaco property, approximately three hectares in size, and an area in Capitán Bozzano, where the future Gran Hospital de Asunción is under construction, as priority locations to house displaced families.
Impact projections vary depending on the level of the Paraguay River. A rise to 4.5 meters would affect about 3,000 families, displacing between 12,000 and 15,000 people. If the level reaches 5.5 meters, the number would exceed 10,000 families, while a rise above 8 meters could lead to a large-scale emergency, affecting between 20,000 and 30,000 families.
José Jara, the municipality's Risk Management Director, reported that the budget allocated for the emergency is 7 billion guaranis, intended for various operational expenses. However, he warned that in a worst-case scenario with more than 100,000 people affected, this amount would be insufficient.
The municipality's strategy combines protocols from past floods with new measures adapted to current infrastructure, prioritizing the provision of better housing conditions and avoiding the occupation of public spaces, as occurred in previous episodes.