Flood disaster in the Ahr valley - tribute to the flood helpers from Jena

Flood disaster in the Ahr valley - recognition of the flood helpers from Jena

Jena, 11.07.2023. On the evening of 11.07.2023, 31 Jena helpers of the flood disaster in the Ahr valley were presented with certificates of honor from the state of Rhineland-Palatinate and medals in the name of the state's Minister President, Malu Dreyer. In total, over 55 helpers from Jena were deployed in the disaster area two years ago.

Appreciation from the city of Jena

Gratitude never goes out of date!

said Lord Mayor Dr. Thomas Nitzsche, welcoming those present who supported the comrades in Ahrweiler.

We can see what you did in the region back then, under conditions that you could never imagine in normal operations. In disaster mode, without being able to fall back on the practiced structures. Direct contact with personal fates - what does that do to you? It is therefore more than appropriate to take this opportunity to formally thank you all.

Flood helpers from Jena in action

According to the first publications, well over 4,000 helpers from all over Germany made their way to the Ahr valley to help the people on the ground. From Jena, too, the appointed state contingents of the fire departments, the German Red Cross and the ASBimmediately joined forces to provide help on site and were in constant action to provide the population with food and drink, ensure fire protection and help with damage control.

Jena must also be well prepared for similar events

Head of Security Benjamin Koppe praises all those involved and at the same time emphasizes the increasing importance of civil protection:

'Our emergency services did a tremendous job back then. The experience and impressions of the disaster on site will remain with usfor the rest of our lives. It must therefore always be emphasized what stresses and strains all helpers were exposed to. Natural disasters, such as the one in the Ahr Valley, are unfortunately becoming more and more likely as climatic conditions change.It is therefore important to emphasize the role of civil protection, to prepare well as a city for similar events and to integrate the experiences from North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate into our own deployment scenarios.

Chief Fire Officer Peter Schörnig once again expressed his admiration for the spontaneous and selfless help of the comrades by emphasizing how remarkable it is

when people spontaneously agree totravelto a completeno-man's landfor 3 daysand provide help in the midst of absolute destruction. It is a good feeling to know that you have such comrades. The medal awarded by the state of Rhineland-Palatinate is just asymbol of the fact that the people on the ground are incredibly grateful that helpers from all over Germany were immediately ready to provide support.

Even after two years, the impressions have to be processed

After the award ceremony, the comrades had the opportunity to describe their impressions from Gelegheneit's perspective. This highly emotional moment only gives an idea of the fates that the flood helpers still have to deal with today.

The flood of the century in the Ahr valley

Within24 hours, more than 200 liters of rain per square meter fell in the night of 14 to 15 July 2021 in parts of the federal states of Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia - with devastating consequences for the local people. At least 133 people died in the Ahr alone during the 2021disaster of the century in Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia. The Ahr flood left a trail of destruction in its wake.