The Ahr valley was hit particularly hard by the flood disaster. Many companies there are very small. According to an estimate by the chambers of crafts, they have suffered damage to property of half a billion euros.
A large part of the estimated total damage of around 560 million euros is attributable to buildings, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IHK) and the Chamber of Crafts (HwK) Koblenz announced on Monday. But not only that: machines, tools and goods were also destroyed. They were included in the estimate.
1,600 member companies affected
In the Ahr Valley, around 800 IHK member companies and 800 HwK member companies were affected by the flood. The majority (71 percent) of these companies are small businesses.
Less than a week after the flood disaster in Rhineland-Palatinate, the search for missing people and the clean-up work continue. The federal government decided to provide emergency aid of 200 million euros, half of which should go to Rhineland-Palatinate.
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The hospitality and hotel industry with around 11,000 beds in the district was particularly hard hit. “The region lives heavily from tourism,” said Arne Rössel, General Manager of the Koblenz Chamber of Commerce. “First the closings due to the corona pandemic and now this natural disaster: This storm is devastating for the economy, and in particular for traders, hoteliers and restaurateurs along the Ahr.”
Quick help required – infrastructure needs to be restored
The financial situation was tense, because many companies had no elementary insurance and reserves had already been used up, he said. The IHK is in close contact with the Ministry of Economic Affairs, because now fast and unbureaucratic support for the companies concerned is necessary. The emergency aid of 5,000 euros is an important first step. But grants and funding programs must also be made available quickly. Not to mention the restoration of the infrastructure, without which companies will only be able to resume their activities partially or not at all, “he emphasized.
HwK General Manager Ralf Hellrich explained that the coordination of the aid measures that have started is now very important. “It is now very important to sensibly coordinate the overwhelming willingness to help of the craftspeople from all over Germany,” he said. Financial support and logistical capacities are urgently needed to provide the helpers on site with the necessary materials.