Reconstruction after floods: 200 million euros in emergency aid from NRW

North Rhine-Westphalia is badly affected by the flood disaster, the state government is now providing emergency aid amounting to 200 million euros. Other federal states also want to participate.

One week after the storm, the state government of North Rhine-Westphalia is providing first emergency aid for the people, companies and municipalities affected in the amount of 200 million euros. The state cabinet decided in a special session. Several other federal states have also indicated their willingness to financially support the planned development aid for the flood areas – these include Saxony-Anhalt, Saxony, Thuringia and Bremen.

Money should flow quickly and unbureaucratically

Prime Minister Armin Laschet (CDU) said: “Aid can be requested from now on.” Withdrawals could be quick. “This is an important step to alleviate at least some of the most pressing needs of the people,” he emphasized. There is emergency aid for four groups: private citizens, businesses, farmers and municipalities.

Laschet also said that applications for help could be submitted unbureaucratically, there would be no means test. “We don’t leave the people and the municipalities alone,” he emphasized. The amount provided is first aid. If more money is required, more will be made available.

A maximum of 3,500 euros per household

In addition to a basic amount of 1,500 euros per household, 500 euros would be available for each additional person in the household. In total, a maximum of EUR 3,500 would be paid to a household. The payout is made through the cities and municipalities. Companies, tradespeople and freelancers affected by the flooding could receive aid amounting to 5,000 euros for each affected business location.

The emergency aid was worked out in close coordination with the Rhineland-Palatinate state government, whose state was also badly hit. Laschet said that there should be the same services on both sides of the national borders.

Saxony-Anhalt shows solidarity

But other federal states also want to help: “Saxony-Anhalt will participate in solidarity with the financial challenges through a development fund,” said Prime Minister Reiner Haseloff of the “Rheinische Post”. “Saxony-Anhalt experienced the same solidarity in 2013 from the federal government and the federal states.”

Saxony: Experience solidarity for yourself

Saxony’s head of government Michael Kretschmer made a similar statement to the editorial network Germany (RND): “Saxony itself has experienced a great deal of solidarity in the course of the past flood disasters.

Bremen’s mayor Andreas Bovenschulte told the RND that of course Bremen showed solidarity and would support the reconstruction in western and southern Germany.

“Thuringia will participate to the necessary extent in solidarity aid funds,” said Prime Minister Bodo Ramelow according to the “Handelsblatt”. In addition, a nationwide commitment to a system of compulsory compensation for natural hazards is needed.

According to the newspaper, the Hessian Ministry of Finance pointed out that the financial situation of the federal states was already tense due to the consequences of the corona pandemic: “The federal states expect a proposal from the federal government that takes this situation into account and avoids excessive demands on state finances.”

Berlin’s Governing Mayor Michael Müller initially referred to the emergency aid after the RND report. “We will still have to talk about a longer-term reconstruction fund, including how this could be designed,” he said.

Heil promises help from the employment agency

Federal Labor Minister Hubertus Heil assured companies and employees in the regions affected by the flood disaster more support from the Federal Employment Agency. “This dramatic crisis is about a triad: firstly, to help people acutely, secondly to create immediate financial aid and thirdly to ensure long-term support for companies and jobs after the reconstruction of the infrastructure,” Heil told the “Rheinische Post”. “We will increasingly secure jobs in the affected regions with the help of funds from the Federal Employment Agency,” said the minister.

The short-time work allowance is not only an instrument for a short-term economic crisis, it can also help employees and companies in the affected regions in their need. “If it is necessary, I will not hesitate to extend the short-time work allowance rules, which were improved during the Corona crisis, beyond the end of September. We are now checking that,” said Heil.

One week after the flood disaster began, especially in western Germany, the federal government decided on Wednesday to provide immediate aid of initially 200 million euros. The countries concerned are to contribute funds in the same amount, so that a total of up to 400 million euros is available. A construction fund worth billions is also planned. After the flood disaster in 2013, the federal government and all the federal states jointly financed the billions in rebuilding.