The El Niño phenomenon, in its most intense phase known as Super Niño, has begun to manifest in Venezuela with a now familiar pattern: above-average temperatures, prolonged drought, and increasing pressure on water and electricity services. effects They are not limited to the weather. They disrupt household routines, force a rethinking of domestic consumption, and test Venezuelans' ability to anticipate a more demanding season than usual.
Given this situation, at DatosUN we wanted to investigate how the population is responding to this context. It's not just about measuring perceptions of the phenomenon, but also about understanding how prepared Venezuelan households are: whether they have adjusted their electricity consumption, what they are doing to conserve drinking water, whether they have alternative systems in case of service outages, how they perceive the heat will affect their well-being, and whether there is a latent risk of forest fires in their immediate surroundings.
We published a digital survey through our portal and social media between August 3 and 7, 2026. We obtained 475 responses from people who decided to participate voluntarily.
The survey explored six specific dimensions: the level of information Venezuelans have about Super Niño and its consequences, the electricity-saving measures they have adopted in their homes, the actions they take to preserve drinking water, the alternative systems they have in place in the event of rationing or service failures, the effects they anticipate from increased temperatures on the well-being of their households, and the presence or risk of vegetation fires in their communities.
These are the results.
More than half said they were informed
53,4% of those surveyed reported feeling very or somewhat informed about the arrival of the Super Niño phenomenon and its potential consequences in Venezuela: 18,7% said they felt very informed and 34,7% somewhat informed. In contrast, 46,5% reported feeling little or not at all informed—29,9% and 16,6%, respectively.
71% contribute to electricity savings
When asked if they have implemented measures for the rational use of electricity in their homes, 71% of respondents stated that they have: 35,8% apply only basic measures, and 35,2% apply stricter measures such as unplugging unused appliances or limiting the use of air conditioners. In contrast, 19,4% say they cannot reduce their consumption further, and 9,7% maintain their usual consumption unchanged.
Water is stored before it runs out.
When asked what actions they currently take to conserve and optimize drinking water consumption, 77,9% of respondents—8 out of 10—store water preventively in tanks, barrels, or other containers. This is followed by reducing shower time and washing frequency (36,6%), immediately repairing leaks or drips in internal pipes (30,5%), and recycling washing machine or rainwater for cleaning or toilets (28,6%). Only 6,1% do not take any additional measures.
6 out of 10 have a residential tank
Regarding alternative systems for dealing with service outages or rationing, 59,6% of respondents—6 out of 10—have a residential water tank, either underground or above ground. Rechargeable emergency lights are the second most common, at 21,9%, followed by portable water pumps at 13,5%, and then, marginally, generators and inverters, both at 2,9%. However, 31,2% of respondents do not have any alternative system, highlighting a significant preparedness gap in a considerable portion of households.
The heat affects sleep
When asked how rising temperatures will affect the well-being of their household members, 71,8% of respondents—7 out of 10—reported difficulty resting or sleeping well at night. This was followed by heat-related health problems such as dehydration, changes in blood pressure, or skin conditions (55,4%); the impact on children or the elderly (41,1%); and faster food spoilage or loss (37,1%). Only 7,4% did not believe the heat would have any effect on their household.
The risk of fires is present
Regarding the risk of vegetation or forest fires in their community due to the drought, 40,2% of respondents reported nearby dry vegetation, although no fires have been reported so far. 22,7% stated that fires are a frequent problem this season, while 30,1% indicated that there are no areas of vegetation in the vicinity of their community. The remaining 6,9% were unaware of the situation in their area.
