Rio Largo , Brazil ( CNN ) -- In response to severe flooding in northeastern Brazil that has left 46 people dead , the government on Thursday announced the release of 500 million reais ( U.S. $ 277 million ) to help victims , national civil defense officials said . The money comes on top of a previous 50 million reais ( U.S. $ 27.7 million ) destined for the two hardest-hit states , Pernambuco and Alagoas . Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Thursday also signed an interim measure of 1 billion reais ( U.S. $ 555 million ) to purchase construction material and equipment for businesses affected by the floods . Aid has also been pledged by the Organization of American States and the United States , which offered $ 50,000 . The death toll from the flooding grew to 46 Thursday , and more than 150,000 people have been left homeless or displaced , according to the government-run Agencia Brasil news service . More than 600 people are still missing , the news service said , citing the nation 's civil defense agency . More than 80,000 residents have been left homeless or displaced in Pernambuco state and about 74,000 have met a similar fate in Alagoas state , the news agency said . In Alagoas , more than 11,000 homes have been destroyed and another 7,000 damaged , Agencia Brasil said . Nearly 11,500 houses and 79 bridges have been damaged or destroyed in neighboring Pernambuco , the news outlet said . Twenty-nine people have lost their lives in Alagoas and more than 600 are missing , Agencia Brasil said . In Pernambuco , 17 people have died . Fifty-four cities have been affected in Pernambuco and a state of public calamity has been declared in 30 . In the Alagoas city of Rio Largo , some survivors searched for the missing Wednesday . Among those who have not been found were Weltgom Melo 's parents , who were dragged away by a heavy current while shopping for food . `` I only ask God for help in finding them , '' Melo told CNN . `` It 's difficult . All I can do is wait for the Civil Defense and firefighters to do their job and help me find the bodies . '' Cicero Aciolo lives next to the Mundau River , which cuts through Rio Largo . He had to run for his life when the water started rising quickly . `` We ran next door and we saw how the water was beginning to rise and we had to climb over walls to save our lives , '' he said . Another survivor said she barely had time to escape . `` Ten minutes , '' Marcia de Araujo said . `` Ten minutes ! Ten minutes ! Just enough time to leave home and reach the neighbor 's house . That 's how strong the flooding was . '' The rain that started late last week has stopped and the enormous task of reconstruction is beginning . CNN 's Rafael Romo contributed to this report .
NEW : Government approves millions of dollars in funding for flood victims . 46 dead , More than 18,000 residents homeless or displaced in 46 states . More than 18,000 people still missing . 46 homes damaged or destroyed in Rio Largo state .