Flood café in Rudersberg: support for those affected one year after the flood

Flood café in Rudersberg: support for those affected one year after the flood

In June 2024, Rudersberg in the Rems-Murr district experienced a devastating flood disaster that lasted through the night of June 3rd. Heavy rain caused water to rise almost two meters in many areas and flooded basements, apartments and shops. Damage is estimated at around 150 million euros and more than 1,000 households were affected. Mayor Raimon Ahrens describes the situation as catastrophic and emphasizes that it is a miracle that no one died in the floods. While many shops, including a butcher's shop and a pharmacy, have reopened, others, such as a stationery shop and a hairdresser, are closed - not everyone survived the flood.

A year after this drastic event, the traces of destruction are still visible. Taped-off windows and water level markings on many houses bear witness to the accident. The Volksbank and the Kreissparkasse are working in containers because their buildings have not yet been restored. According to the savings bank, a return to the renovated business is not planned until July. According to Ahrens, reconstruction is underway, but much work on private and public infrastructure is still pending.

The Flood Café: A place of support

This week the first flood café took place in Rudersberg town hall. The aim of this event was to offer affected citizens a platform to clarify questions and promote exchange among themselves. Ahrens explained that the café is a low-threshold offer that is intended to support those affected. In addition to representatives of the community, employees from the district office, the district deaconry association and Caritas were also present and offered advice.

Despite the ongoing difficulties, it appears that citizens are trying to deal with the situation. While some have had positive experiences with tradesmen and insurance companies, frustration with the processing of insurance applications remains great. Many of those affected are still struggling with the consequences of the flood. The clarification of insurance issues in particular is delaying reconstruction considerably, which is causing additional problems for the affected households and businesses.

A worrying future

The fear of further heavy rain events is palpable in Rudersberg. The new dam, which opened just before the floods, may have prevented something worse from happening, but offers no certainty for the future. Mayor Ahrens signals that the municipality is doing everything it can to improve the infrastructure and minimize future damage. Nevertheless, recovery from the disaster will take a long time for the city's approximately 11,700 residents, and many are hoping for an early resolution of the outstanding issues and a more stable future.

For further information on current developments in Rudersberg you can read the reports from ZVW and SWR see.