Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier visited the Ahr Valley on Sunday. He made a promise to the numerous people affected and the many helpers.
Steinmeier’s first stop in the afternoon was Ahrweiler, a district of Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler. On the Ahr, he got an idea of the extent of the destruction caused by the flood disaster and of the status of the reconstruction.
During the subsequent tour through the old town of Ahrweiler, he got into conversation with local residents, listened to their worries and fears and assured further help: “We will not forget you, that was the promise from the days of the flood. A promise, that we have to adhere to, “said Steinmeier.
Spiegel: Visit a “very important signal”
Steinmeier was accompanied by the Deputy Prime Minister of Rhineland-Palatinate and Climate Protection Minister Anne Spiegel (Greens) and Interior Minister Roger Lewentz (SPD). Spiegel thanked Steinmeier for the visit, which was a “very, very important signal”.
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Steinmeier spontaneously meets private helpers
The head of state was visibly affected while walking through the historic old town of Ahrweiler. “The extent of the destruction only becomes really clear when you take a look into the houses here in the streets,” says Steinmeier. At the market square he spontaneously went to the stand of the private initiative “Today for Tomorrow”. Helpers from Münster offer a point of contact for practical support and discussions over coffee and cake. In the neighboring parish office of the St. Laurentius Church, the Federal President met with two married couples who lost relatives in the flood. On the further way he was greeted by residents and asked into the house.
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Mourning and coping with everyday life in the foreground
“Little has been heard of allegations,” said Steinmeier after talking to those affected. Of course, the disaster warning system is an issue. But the focus is on mourning – and coping with everyday life with a view to the approaching winter. He hoped that there would be at least temporary solutions for everyone who was still without heating and electricity.
Steinmeier draws attention to the Ahr valley
The situation is still desolate for innkeepers and winegrowers in the region. Federal President Steinmeier therefore also visited the Mayschoss-Altenahr wine cooperative.
Their managing director, Matthias Baltes, was looking forward to the visit beforehand: Steinmeier was attracting attention because the Ahr valley had disappeared more and more from the front pages. Viticulture in the Ahr Valley has a hard time because usually more than half of the wine is sold directly in the valley, in vinotheques to tourists.
Steinmeier thanks helpers
Steinmeier led the third station to the helper shuttle to the county county. From here, volunteers are still driven into the Ahr Valley in minibuses, all on private initiative. Steinmeier thanked these people for their commitment. According to the founder of the shuttle service, Marc Ulrich, months after the flood disaster, around 400 to 500 volunteers are still on duty every working day, and a little more on the weekend.
Matthias Baltes from the winegrowers’ cooperative in Mayschoss also says that the helpers are still important today. Right now they are used in the grape harvest or to clean the bottles of the so-called flood wine, many of which are still full of mud.
On September 1, Steinmeier took part in a state ceremony for the victims of the flood disaster. At that time he said at the Nürburgring that it was not just about emergency aid for reconstruction. “They need our help and our attention not only now, in the acute emergency, but for a long time.” A promise that he renewed to the people on his three visits on Sunday.