When the rainy season hits in Rio de Janeiro it seems that the media overseas choose to report floods of biblical proportions that force locals to stockpile animals and supplies into arcs as a last resort for waiting out the storms (I hope Giant Stone Jesus saves us).
This is not the case; you are being lied to.
But you should have already known that when you started watching the news and began allowing others to define reality for you.
Yes, it rains a lot in Rio, but much of the massive flooding and mudslides take place elsewhere in the more rural areas in the state of Rio de Janeiro (we have a New York, New York situation going on down here for all those who are having a difficult time grasping this). However, the rain here is epic to experience and definitely dwarfs any rainstorm to be found in California (the Midwest is still in the running).