ROUGH CUT (NO REPORTER NARRATION)<br/> <br />STORY: Thousands of people in Rio de Janeiro state were left homeless after days of heavy rains caused major floods.<br/> <br />Rio's northern district of Xerem was the most affected region. The streets there turned to running rivers, destroying everything on its way.<br/> <br />Only two people have died so far due to the bad weather conditions, but more than 2,000 are estimated to have lost their homes.<br/> <br />On Friday Xerem's residents were assessing the damage done to their properties. Many people lost everything, but are glad to be alive.<br/> <br />Heavy rains are a regular occurrence during the summer months in Brazil's southeast region.<br/> <br />In Rio de Janeiro state, precarious housing built in high risk areas can bear the brunt of nature's devastating force.
