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Flood disaster: Why rescue in the Lebenshilfehaus failed!
The 2021 Ahr flood claimed twelve lives in Sinzig. Experts criticize the lack of evacuation and crisis management.
Flood disaster: Why rescue in the Lebenshilfehaus failed!
During the devastating Ahr flood in July 2021, twelve people died in a life support house in Sinzig. Many questions about responsibility and crisis management, especially the role of the then district administrator Jürgen Pföhler, remain unresolved to this day. On the night of July 14th to 15th, 2021, there was a catastrophic rise in water levels, which unexpectedly hit the facility. According to [SWR]. Twelve other residents on the ground floor drowned.
Among those who died was Stevie Welcome, who would be 42 years old today. His mother, Simone Willkommen, who had hoped that those responsible would evacuate her in a timely manner, is now full of questions. There were at least eight hours between the first victims in Dorsel and the flood in Sinzig, and yet there was no evacuation. Experts such as disaster control specialist Gerd Gräff are convinced that a rescue would have been possible. An evacuation plan, which would have been absolutely necessary for a high-risk area, would have enabled a quick response.
Missing warnings and organizational problems
The problems seem to go deeper. During the event, there were reports of overload and communication problems in the crisis team. This is also proven by the RP report, which shows that employees describe Pföhler as “erratic” and “personally affected”. While he was considered decisive in previous crises, such as the corona pandemic, he no longer seemed to be his old self that night. Over 750 people were injured and the impact of the flood reached 134 deaths.
The public prosecutor's office closed proceedings against Pföhler, accusing him of shared responsibility for the disaster. However, due to pressure from the surviving relatives, especially Stevie Willkommen's parents, it is being examined whether a resumption of the proceedings can be considered. The crisis management expert Gräff also criticized a report that denied the possibility of evacuation and called for a differentiated view of the events.
Crisis management: an empty concept?
Crisis management in such disasters is often presented as a challenge for everyone involved. It is crucial that public and private actors work together effectively. The [BBK](https://www.bbk.bund.de/DE/Themen/ Krisenmanagement/kritikenmanagement_node.html) (Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance) not only offers support for authorities, but also works on the constant improvement of crisis organizations. Given the tragedies of the Ahr flood and the lessons that need to be learned from it, it may be time to fundamentally rethink Germany's structures and procedures.
The current events surrounding the Ahr flood not only raise questions about the past, but also demand answers for the future. How can similar disasters be prevented in the future? And above all: Why were the lives of the residents not protected in time? Attention to these tragic events remains essential to ensure that such mistakes are not repeated.