Temporary flood control barriers are protecting two medical facilities, a hotel and the city's conference and convention center, said city spokeswoman Sheri Rabb.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Many still ask whether Rio authorities, who have succeeded in cracking down on much of the city's drug violence, are up to the task of protecting the waves of tourists expected to flood the city during the upcoming double-header of mega-events.

NPR: Rape, Kidnap Of Tourists Feed Rio Safety Fears

In a statement, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said it needed to "target funding for flood risk management where it will achieve the greatest benefit in protecting people and property from flooding".

BBC: Landowners call for dredging of flood-hit Somerset Levels

The flood defence scheme, named Our City Our River, is aimed at protecting the area which last experienced serious floods in 2007.

BBC: Derby

Patrick Foye, the executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, said workers were inspecting flood damage at La Guardia, including the possibility that a barge may have hit a dike protecting the low-lying runways from the bay.

WSJ: Buses Back, But Subways Could Take Days Longer