flood disaster
Ahr Valley disaster: Circus tent is a meeting point for those affected
A group meets in the circus tent that serves as a meeting point after the flood disaster. photo
© Thomas Frey/dpa
The tent in the town of Dernau in the Ahr Valley is considered a place of retreat for young and old. It offers people the opportunity to escape from everyday life between worries and construction sites for a while.
At least 136 people died in the flood disaster of July 14/15, 2021 in Rhineland-Palatinate alone. In neighboring North Rhine-Westphalia, 49 people died. According to the city, around 90 percent of all people in Dernau were affected by the flood. Shortly after the flood, 570 of 650 households were unable to use their homes.
“You know the children are in good hands”
It was the famous crazy idea to set up a circus tent, said Ingo Carnott, team leader of the Johanniter flood aid in the Ahr valley. “Of course, at first it was extremely helpful for the families, because the children didn’t necessarily have to run around on the construction site or in the mud, which was actually contaminated.” Like other aid organizations, the Johanniter offer meeting places for those affected in various places affected by the flood.
Even today, the tent is still a relief for parents. “You know the children are in good hands, they’re being well taken care of, and they’re being busy with a lot,” says 47-year-old resident Kathrin Gieler. “You don’t have to worry when they’re cruising through the village with all the construction vehicles that are cruising around.”
For many, the circus tent is a welcome escape from everyday life between worries and construction sites. Since opening in October 2021, there have been shelves full of games, table football and handicrafts and offers for senior citizens. “You’re not alone there. We talk about all sorts of things,” says 85-year-old Irmgard Fisang.