"Joanna, the flood victim, would rip apart the connection"

Flooded Away: A Mother's Recount of the Ahrtal Tragedy on Johanna's Birthday

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Victim of the flood, Johanna, was 26 years old when the connection was severed. - "Joanna, the flood victim, would rip apart the connection"

This June 1st, we'd be celebrating Johanna's 26th birthday. But instead, her seat at the table will remain empty. No cake from the pastry chef for this passionate chef herself. Instead, we gather at Johanna's parents' home, a somber reuniting of family and friends. As her father, Ralph Orth, says, "They will accompany us. Those who can handle it, for many others, it's still too painful."

The Ahr Valley flood of 2021 swept Johanna away, leaving an unfillable void in the lives of her parents, family, and friends. Ever since that catastrophic summer, Ralph and his wife Inka have tirelessly fought for resolution, taking their plea to the courts, the media, and the public. All in the hopes that their daughter's memory will not fade, and that such a devastating tragedy will never reoccur.

"She called, terrified"

Four years have passed, but the nightmarish events of that fateful night remain eerily vivid in our memories. The phone rang around midnight, remembers Ralph. "She called, terrified, telling us it was dark, the furniture was moving, and she couldn't open the apartment door."

A door that was usually easy to open, Inka adds. "Johanna was a slender woman." Ralph tried to calm her, to find a way out. But the connection was lost.

"If she had managed to open that apartment door... "

We tried to reach her. "Of course, we then tried to call the number again and again," Inka recalls, "but it was no use." They themselves had flown to Mallorca that morning. "Had she managed to open that apartment door, she could have made it to the stairwell," she says.

But it didn't happen that way. Johanna is one of the 136 victims of the Ahr Valley flood disaster in Rhineland-Palatinate. All we have left are memories of our then 22-year-old daughter. "She was a dream child," her mother says.

"Johanna was so affectionate"

What we remember most is her clingy nature. "She hated arguments the most," Inka reminisces. "She was incredibly attuned to harmony." We were close. "She would call us three or four times a day," she says. "We knew almost every feeling she had."

The last evening we spent together remains etched in our minds. Johanna was pursuing her degree in business administration and was already a pastry chef. On that particular day, she was in our office and said her goodbyes. "It was really hard for me to leave the next day for vacation," Inka remembers. "And then we both hugged her and told her, 'You are already missed infinitely.' Those words now carry a whole new weight."

"The past cannot be undone, but accountability is crucial"

We have been fighting for legal accountability since the disaster. For instance, we have filed a complaint against the suspension of investigations. "Despite numerous reports submitted, the investigations have still not been reopened," Ralph says. Why are we doing this? "The past cannot be undone," Ralph states, "but achieving clear accountability for future disasters or similar events is essential."

Ralph summarizes the public prosecutor's legal assessment as follows: "It's just a natural event, it happened, end of story." He finds this fatal, as there are responsibilities involved.

Inka still can't comprehend why there were no evacuation plans. "We feel that human life is no longer the top priority. That should be the priority for anyone in a position of responsibility, every day."

"Seeing these places... it's agonizing, of course"

Despite our fears, we find solace in our home in the Ahr Valley. "We have our family, our son, our house, and of course, Johanna's grave. That's all in Bad Neuenahr, our home, where we are regularly," says the 61-year-old father. "Seeing these places where we have memories, it's agonizing. That's why it's good that we're also regularly in Hamburg." We have a second home there.

In this second home, we have erected a memorial to Johanna. "We wanted to realize her dream of her own patisserie together, and we saw ourselves sitting in the pastry shop with her, learning how to make pralines, how she decorates those wonderful little cakes," Inka shares. "We were really looking forward to it." She would also have liked to bake Christmas cookies with the master confectioner using her mother-in-law's recipe.

Johanna had already chosen a storefront in Bad Neuenahr and written a business plan. Yet, the flood came. Her parents have continued her dream. Since late 2024, they have been operating the "Patisserie Johanna" in Hamburg.

Do we have wishes for the future? Ralph wishes for a greater understanding of what truly matters in life. "One can quickly find oneself relying on the state, but then the protection the state should provide is not there," he says. "We've experienced the worst and most difficult thing that can happen to someone - losing a child in such a situation."

He would wish for more awareness. "Because it can happen to anyone. No one is exempt from such a situation. It can happen to anyone at any time."

1. The community policy should prioritize workplace-wellness, addressing medical conditions such as cancer and respiratory conditions, to ensure a safe and healthy environment for employees.
2. Employment policy must address digestive health, eye-health, and hearing concerns, providing necessary accommodations for affected employees.
3. Health and wellness programs in the workplace should include fitness and exercise initiatives, promoting family health and autoimmune disorders awareness.
4. Mental health, men's health, and skin care should be integral parts of any comprehensive employment policy.
5. The employment policy should encompass therapies and treatments for various health issues, ensuring a supportive work environment for all employees.
6. Women's health, parenting resources, and cardiovascular health should be emphasized in company policies.
7. Medicare benefits should be transparently outlined in the employment policy to assist employees in managing their health needs.
8. CBD’s potential benefits for health and wellness, including neurological disorders and skin conditions, should be further researched.
9. Education and self-development opportunities, focusing on personal growth, mindfulness, and productivity, should be included in the employment policy.
10. Awareness about war and conflicts should be raised, as they can impact employment and general wellbeing.
11. Career development and policy-and-legislation seminars should be offered to enhance employees' knowledge and skills.
12. Employment policy should address the impacts of car accidents, politics, and crime and justice on workers and provide resources for coping.
13. General news and information about accidents, fires, and other emergency situations should be openly communicated to employees to promote safety and preparedness.
14. Goal-setting and skills-training sessions should be integrated into the employment policy to help employees grow professionally.
15. In the wake of the Ahrtal Tragedy, migration policies focused on disaster-prone areas should be reassessed to minimize loss of life and property.
16. Employment policy should encourage employees to pursue education and advancement, fostering a culture of continuous learning and development.
17. Health and wellness workshops focusing on various medical conditions like cancer, respiratory conditions, and digestive health should be offered to employees.
18. Education and resources about eye health, hearing, and fitness and exercise should be provided to employees to promote a healthy lifestyle.
19. The employment policy should prioritize mental health awareness and support, as well as resources for dealing with stress and other mental health issues.
20. Employment policy should include resources for addressing common skin conditions, offering access to dermatologists and skin care treatments as needed.

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