Germany's flood-hit regions brace for winter

Come nighttime, when Bernd Hülkenberg finishes his flood clean-up work, he can see only a few lights on in the houses on the other side of the Ahr River — just a stone's throw from its banks. Many people have still not returned to the area some three months since catastrophic floods swept away lives and livelihoods.

"They're all gone. It's deadly quiet here at night," he said. "The silence is terrifying."

Everyone has a flood story to tell from this town, Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, which the river once flowed harmlessly through. Hülkenberg, an amateur musician, recalls how he was listening to classical music in his basement when he heard a roar. He opened the door and was suddenly up to his neck in water.

With the power out, he raced up the stairs in the dark. The water rose quickly behind him, and the ground floor was submerged within minutes. Hülkenberg made it to the next floor, but his beloved dog did not.

"There was nothing worse than not being able to save my dog," he said. "I tried reaching for her in the water, but I couldn't see anything in the dark."

Still without hot water

Hülkenberg is back in his house now. A microwave, coffee machine and small refrigerator were donated to him. Every day he works to remove the mold from the walls, and every day more builds up.

After more than 32 years in the town's Bachem district, Hülkenberg would rather shower without hot water — which he has done for three months — than leave. He's been told hot water may be restored by the beginning of next year.

He has an electric heater, like everyone else in the area, which means he has to be careful how much he uses.

"You can't overload the circuitry. If 20 people turn on their heaters at once, it'll blow a fuse. The winter will be bad," he said. "My goal is to have a sofa to sit on in my renovated living room in a year."

The floods here inundated three streets. That makes for 100 households. Two people were killed. Those living higher up from the river, such as Ulrich Stieber, were the luckier ones. His house may be on higher ground, but on the night of the floods, he was not. Stieber nearly lost his life saving a friend's parents who lived below.

The floodwaters carried him for more than a kilometer. He grabbed a lamppost with what strength he had left as trees and other debris rushed by. Even for a nearby rescue boat, it was too dangerous to help. He was swept further and saved by a pump at a gas station, which he clung to all through the night.

Stieber has worked to get his life back. The disaster has brought Bachem's 1,300 residents closer together. Like many of the victims, Stieber has trouble sleeping and needs counseling.

Volunteers still needed

Most volunteer workers find themselves at the central shelter in Grafschaft, a nearby municipality. Thomas Pütz, a medical devices supplier from the area, has come to oversee the work and has attracted a lot of attention — both from international media and Germany's President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who recently paid a visit. Like many people here, Pütz is both victim and helper; he lost his business to the floods.

"We're not only bringing helpers to the flood zone with our buses, but we organize fixed addresses, tasks and pick-up points," Pütz said.

There were 3,000 daily volunteers at one time, he said, including those who canceled their vacations or took a leave of absence from their jobs to help. But those numbers are dwindling as the flood fades from memory and other topics, such as Afghanistan or the election, get more attention. Now, just 600 people might turn up on a weekend to help out.

"Media coverage suggests everything in the Ahr Valley is almost back to normal," Pütz said. "But that is hardly the case."

Weather is also an issue. Pütz speaks to a meteorologist every morning to get the day's forecast for the area, including anticipated rainfall. He's worried about the coming cold.

"It will stay mild until the end of October, giving us a chance to dry things out long term. But that ends once temperatures drop below freezing,” he said. "We have to get as much done as possible before the cold and wet set in. That's why we need every helping hand."

Professional help

Technisches Hilfswerk (THW), a civil protection organization overseen by the German government, is on the ground to repair critical infrastructure. The constant presence of their dark-blue trucks is "something we'd more likely see in a war zone,” said THW spokesperson Stefan Seitz.

Infrastructure is secondary to saving lives and property. THW's workers are kept busy pumping out water to repair a bridge. They've also set up 21 temporary bridges, taking the place of the dozens that were lost to the floods.

"The plan is to get normal bridges here within the next two years,” Seitz said.

Federal and state governments have set up a €30 billion ($34.7 billion) fund to help flood victims. Getting some of that money requires correctly filling out a form. Those who don't, or can't, hope for help from people like Myriam Kemp. This German Red Cross worker offers consulting sessions called "prospects after the flood."

"There are still a lot of people who don't know which funds to apply for. And others can't tackle the bureaucratic monster alone," she said. "Many people are uncomfortable asking for help. They only do when they are really desperate."

Kemp said she focuses mostly on immigrants and older people, who may struggle with language or technology. She also connects people with counseling if she senses that they may be suffering from trauma.

"This is really just the beginning, and we don't know what's still to come," she said.

This article has been translated from German.

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