92-year-old Erich Holzky is visibly touched by Chancellor Olaf Scholz's (SPD) visit to Ahrbrück.

Almost nine months after the flood disaster that killed 134, Holzky has long since been living in his house again.

He was lucky, the water was only in the basement.

He lived with his son for six weeks and he arranged everything so that he could return, says the elderly senior.

Dieter Hupperich, who is also waiting for the chancellor at the memorial stone in the center of Ahrbrück on Tuesday, says: "He should take a look at the misery."

Hupperich reports that although the voluntary fire brigade evacuated his street during the night of the floods from July 14 to 15, 2021, he and his wife stayed in the house.

“That was a mistake.” Both of them had to go up to the attic in their own house to escape the masses of water.

“The water had never been this high before.” At least he can now live on the first floor again, with a makeshift kitchen in one of the children's rooms.

Olaf Scholz talks to those affected

Nicole Hupperich-Hoffmann came with her daughter (7) and her son (5) because the children want to see the police accompanying the Chancellor, Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, Prime Minister Malu Dreyer (all SPD) and the other politicians.

They can't go back to their house yet, they rent a place a few kilometers away from friends.

Scholz spoke to those affected for a good hour on Tuesday and found out about a conversion project in which up to 160 new residential units are to be built on the site of a factory.

Minister of the Interior Roger Lewentz, Minister of Economics Daniela Schmidt (FDP) and Minister of the Environment Karin Eder (Greens) as well as the new District Administrator of the district of Ahrweiler Cornelia Weigand (independent) and Mayor Walter Radermacher (civic association) were also present.

Scholz had previously visited Bad Münstereifel in North Rhine-Westphalia, which was also badly damaged in the flash flood last summer.

Many mental wounds in Ahrbrück

134 people died in the flood disaster in the Ahr Valley, 9 of them in Ahrbrück.

260 houses in the local community with its 1200 inhabitants were damaged and more than 20 had to be demolished.

Camping sites and two club houses were also affected, one was washed away by the water masses.

Of the around 750 people injured in the flash flood, around 20 came from Ahrbrück, says Mayor Walter Radermacher (civic association).

But there would be a lot of emotional wounds.

"For all citizens and those who help, it is very important to see that this is still on the table - and relatively high up," he says of Scholz's visit.

The new district administrator Cornelia Weigand (independent) sees the chancellor's visit as "an important sign" and is pleased that the entire region has been receiving attention.

“There is still so much to build and there are still so many questions,” she says.

This includes, for example, a special construction and special trade zone, "which no longer appears so realistic and would be so important".

The Chancellor speaks to volunteers and those affected, asks questions and inquires about the status of the reconstruction.

Robert Freisberg from the Ministry of the Interior in Mainz explains to him how around 150 new residential units are to be built on a factory site with around 4.1 million euros from the state.

"This is an offer not only for Ahrbrück, but for the entire Ahr Valley."

The federal government has not forgotten the Ahr Valley

In just six months it was clear that this was technically and economically possible.

“Otherwise it takes two years,” says Freisberg.

The hall will be demolished in 2023, and construction work could probably begin in 2024.

Planning applications for the plots of land on the meadow in front of it could still be made this year.

State Minister of the Interior Roger Lewentz (SPD) is giving Mayor Radermacher 693,000 euros in funding for the reconstruction of the two community-owned bridges.

The Federal Government has not forgotten the Ahr Valley, the Chancellor assured after the visit, according to a statement from the State Chancellery.

That is why, despite the tense world situation, he came to the flood areas of Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia.