Status: 07/14/2022 2:39 p.m
It is a day of remembrance in Rhineland-Palatinate, North Rhine-Westphalia and neighboring Belgium. Federal President Steinmeier visited the Ahr Valley, which was particularly hard hit by the flood – and also urged the fight against climate change.
More than 220 people died a year ago in the flood disaster in parts of Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia and in neighboring Belgium. The Ahr valley in the north of Rhineland-Palatinate was particularly affected – 134 people lost their lives here alone.
On the anniversary of the flood, many politicians come to this valley to find out about the status of reconstruction and to express their solidarity with the people in the region.
Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier arrived in the morning. Together with the Prime Minister of Rhineland-Palatinate, Malu Dreyer, he visited a wine bar in Altenahr and a carpenter’s workshop in Dernau.
One year after the flood in the Ahr Valley: Federal President Steinmeier visits the region
Peter Sonnenberg, SWR, daily news at 2:00 p.m., July 14, 2022
“We know how many are still wrestling”
“During previous visits here in the Ahr Valley, I said: We won’t forget you,” said Steinmeier after visiting the rebuilt restaurant. By coming on the first anniversary of the catastrophe, he wanted to signal that this was the case.
We have not forgotten the people in the Ahr Valley and we know how many are still struggling to rebuild their apartments and houses.
A lot has already been achieved during the reconstruction and some new ones have been created, but there is still a lot to do. In view of the long waiting times for craft businesses and experts, the conditions for this are not easy. That’s why the people in the Ahr Valley also know that reconstruction is “not a 365-day task”. Helping hands are still needed.
consequence of climate change
Immediately after the flood there was massive criticism of the authorities. Meteorologists had warned of massive rainfall on the night of July 14, 2021. The warnings were not taken seriously enough, however, and the overstretched authorities made many mistakes in crisis management.
Steinmeier said during his visit to the Ahr Valley that it is now the task of those responsible and governments to combat the consequences of climate change and improve civil protection in the country.
“Climate change has reached us,” said Steinmeier. This was shown again by these days of burning forests and falling groundwater levels. After the years 2018 to 2020, “a fourth summer of drought” is now threatening in many regions. The fight against climate change has not lost its urgency.
Scholz at a commemoration in Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler
On the occasion of the anniversary of the flood, many experts also called for an improvement in civil protection: Germany must become more crisis-proof – with better organization and warnings as well as sensitized citizens, said Ralph Tiesler, President of the Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (BBK). All people would have to ask themselves: “What can we do about it?” Better cooperation between the actors and the expansion of the warning system are important, said Tiesler in the joint morning magazine ARD and ZDF.
Later in the day, two central commemorations will take place in Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia. Steinmeier is expected at an ecumenical memorial service in Euskirchen in North Rhine-Westphalia, which NRW Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst will also attend. The central commemoration event of the Rhineland-Palatinate Ahr Valley takes place in Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler. Chancellor Olaf Scholz is also expected there as a guest.
Germany’s western neighbor Belgium also recalled the flood. King Philippe and Queen Mathilde met residents and representatives of the rescue services and authorities in the Wallonian city of Limburg. In Belgium, 39 people died in the storm. There were 49 fatalities in North Rhine-Westphalia and 135 in Rhineland-Palatinate.