Disasters in Petrópolis, Brazil: political, urban planning, and geometeorological factors that contributed to the event on February 15, 2022

In Brazil, Petrópolis, situated in the mountainous region of the Rio de Janeiro, stands out as one of the areas most severely affected by disasters. The present study aims to provide: i) an overview of disaster cases in Petrópolis (2018 to 2022); ii) the geometeorological mechanisms that supported the occurrence of the extreme precipitation event on February 15, 2022; and iii) the role of urban planning policies in disaster risk management in Petrópolis. 194 different disasters events were identified, with the majority (51%) being landslides. In February 2022, the landslides and floods resulted from the contribution of the extreme precipitation event, which led to a daily accumulation of 260 mm. A cold front over the ocean brought moisture to the southeast of Brazil, and local topography favored southward winds, supporting storm formation. It is worth noting that despite the existence of a previous risk assessment study conducted by the municipality's administration, disasters continue to occur, highlighting the need for monitoring and revision of local public policies. Beyond random misfortunes, the occurrence of disasters underscores the socio-environmental injustices produced by the omission of public administration, contributing to Petrópolis becoming a risk-prone area.