Status: 09/01/2021 10:25 a.m.
Starting next month, those affected by the flood disaster in Rhineland-Palatinate should be able to apply for help. This was announced by Prime Minister Dreyer. In the afternoon, the victims will be commemorated with a state ceremony at the Nürburgring.
The flood disaster in mid-July caused billions in damage in Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia. From next month, those affected from Rhineland-Palatinate will be able to apply for help from the construction fund, which the federal and state governments agreed about three weeks ago.
The Rhineland-Palatinate Prime Minister Malu Dreyer announced this in an interview with rbb to: “At the moment we are preparing how we will give people the opportunity to submit applications as easily as possible from October onwards.”
Federal Council still has to approve funds
30 billion euros are to flow into the development fund. A week ago, the Bundestag approved the aid, but the Bundesrat’s vote is still pending. If he approves the fund, the necessary legislation at federal level is concluded.
Then, according to Dreyer, the “budgetary requirements” must be created at the state level. In a government statement Dreyer announced that the Council of Ministers of their federal state should discuss a state law on the establishment of a special fund “Development Aid Fund Rhineland-Palatinate 2021” on September 14th. About a week later, the law should then be introduced into the state parliament.
From October, private individuals as well as companies and municipalities should be able to apply for help.
Rhineland-Palatinate expects well over 100,000 applications
Ina Scharrenbach, the minister responsible for local government and construction in North Rhine-Westphalia, had promised an earlier start of the application process – from September 13th. Your state government expects up to 100,000 requests for financial support from the private sector and around 11,000 further requests from companies and businesses.
State act for flood victims
Around 250 localities in Rhineland-Palatinate were affected by the flood disaster, more than 180 people were killed. They are to be commemorated today with a state ceremony at the Nürburgring. The Formula 1 racetrack is located in the Ahrweiler district, which was particularly hard hit by the floods. Helpers and members of the armed forces, rescue services, police and disaster control had set up a base camp here in order to deploy to the Ahr valley.
According to state chief Dreyer, in addition to relatives of the victims and missing persons, people who were injured or damaged by the flood, as well as auxiliaries and mayors of affected places, were invited to the state ceremony. We want to remember the victims, but also thank the countless helpers and also send the signal to all affected people that they are not alone in their suffering and need, emphasized Dreyer. Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier should also take part in the memorial event.
The first broadcasts the state act from 5 p.m. in a special broadcast, tagesschau.de shows it in a live stream.