Offers of help after the flood: How those affected can be supported | NDR.de – News

2023-10-27 00:29:39

As of: October 26, 2023 3:25 p.m

After the Baltic Sea storm surge, many people want to help. Some municipalities have therefore set up donation accounts or are networking those who are willing to help and those affected. Numerous private appeals for donations are also shared.

Storms and floods caused major damage to the Baltic Sea coast of Schleswig-Holstein over the weekend. Some houses are uninhabitable, cellars are full, furniture and inventory are destroyed. Many companies, restaurants, but also campsites and holiday resorts are also affected. Because insurance often does not cover storm surges, those affected face major financial challenges. In addition, there are the clean-up work and repairs that are necessary in many places and take a lot of time.

In this situation, many people want to help, donate money or lend a hand themselves. There are various options for this in the affected districts and municipalities.

Flensburg: Donation account is set up

According to city spokesman Clemens Teschendorf, a central donation account is to be set up in Flensburg. Information about this will probably be available on the city’s website from Friday. An overview of the contact points should then be provided there for those affected. There are currently no major clean-up operations in Flensburg; the Technical Operations Center (TBZ) clears public areas and collects bulky waste on special tours. Teschendorf points out again that this offer currently only applies to people affected by the flood. However, the city spokesman does not rule out that there will be clean-up operations with volunteers later. “We initially didn’t want to tie up workers who were needed elsewhere, for example when renovating,” he explains.

Eckernförde: Central donation account and clean-up campaigns

The city of Eckernförde (Rendsburg-Eckernförde district), together with the economic circle, the Rotary Club, the Lions Club and the Round Table 80, has set up a donation account at the Eckernförder Bank. (IBAN DE28 210920230 011844400, sponsored by the funding company LCE). Those seeking help can also contact the specially set up email address [e-mail].

The city is currently not accepting donations in kind centrally. However, the city announced that it would provide information on its website about clean-up activities in which volunteers can take part. Loose clinker bricks from the beach promenade were picked up on Wednesday. However, city administration employees first want to continue to inspect the damage and restore traffic safety on the paths. Afterwards we will see where and what can be cleaned up together, according to the website. The city urgently asks you not to put yourself in danger and not to enter restricted areas.

Disaster protection: Don’t just drive to affected places

The head of fire and disaster control in the Schleswig-Flensburg district, Jörg Reinhardt, also advises against “simply getting in the car with a shovel and driving off.” Many access roads are still flooded or waterlogged, so the entrances and exits have to be coordinated by the fire department. “It would be fatal if someone got stuck there and then blocked the path for emergency vehicles or even ended up in danger themselves,” said Reinhardt. If you want to help, you should contact an office or community. This worked well, for example, in Maasholm, where dikes were broken by the flood. There, several local companies that had excavators or trucks available reported to the fire department’s operations management and then transported material and helped with building the dike.

Districts: Contact cities and municipalities directly

There are no central offers from the district; so far only two specific inquiries have been received there. According to Reinhardt, this is also because the route via the individual communities and control centers works well and there is a strong community in the affected places in which help is coordinated among each other. According to Reinhardt, there is now a transition phase. “The need for helping hands in the traditional sense is decreasing because more and more machines are being used,” he says. However, help with the clean-up work is still needed, but in different forms depending on the location. The districts of Ostholstein and Rendsburg-Eckernförde also recommend contacting the cities and communities directly to inquire about support needs or fundraising campaigns.

Schleswig: City connects offers of help and needs

The city of Schleswig is also experiencing the fact that many people want to offer help. The city and city marketing work together to connect those seeking help with those willing to help. Anyone who needs or wants to offer support can contact the city marketing email address [e-mail] or a hotline set up for this purpose on 04621 814 333. So far, over 50 offers of help have been received, says Helge Schütze from Schleswig City Marketing. “There was everything there, from financial offers to inventory, and some also wanted to bring food,” he reports. These offers have all been listed – because, according to Schütze, the injured parties are only now gradually coming forward. “There is a feeling of shame that has to be overcome,” he suspects. “On the other hand, I first have to be able to define what I actually need.”

But people have already been networked. For example, a football team would have canceled training to clear out the basement instead. Donations in kind are also distributed directly this way; there is no central collection point in the city. Nevertheless, you can of course take clothes to well-known providers such as the Arbeiterwohlfahrt, says Schütze. The city does not accept monetary donations and has not set up a central donation account. According to Schütze, it would be too complicated to then distribute the money or name individual affected people to whom donations should be made. He refers to a number of private fundraising campaigns, for example via platforms such as gofundme.com.

Several private fundraising events

In fact, numerous appeals were shared on gofundme.com and other platforms such as betterplace.me, often for individual stories behind destroyed restaurants, campsites or shops. Many private appeals for donations are also shared on social networks. NDR Schleswig-Holstein cannot verify these offers or check in detail which recipients the money goes to. Therefore, we cannot provide an overview of all private fundraising campaigns here.

The state is planning funds and hardship regulations

According to information from NDR Schleswig-Holstein, there is currently no central donation account in the state. The state government has agreed with the municipalities on a joint reconstruction fund, but has not yet named a specific amount. A hardship regulation is intended to help those who do not have insurance. In addition, a disaster decree comes into force, as Schleswig-Holstein’s Finance Minister Monika Heinold (Greens) announced on Wednesday. The Federal Ministry of Finance agreed to the previous proposal from Schleswig-Holstein. The disaster decree enables, among other things, tax relief for private individuals and companies, such as deferrals or the postponement of enforcement measures.

Ostholstein wants to set up additional aid funds

In the Ostholstein district, district administrator Timo Gaarz (CDU) has also proposed his own aid fund. In his view, a structural fund that has existed since 2020 could be expanded to include a one-off element of a special storm surge fund. Gaarz sees the state and federal government as having a primary responsibility and is therefore aiming for a volume of 1.5 million euros as a complementary offer.

Further information

The problem: Storm surges generally do not fall under so-called natural hazards. A hardship regulation in the state is intended to help those affected. more

In many places, garbage collectors are currently running special tours – parallel to regular operations. Some people seem to be taking advantage of this service. more

The aim is to secure the dams at Arnis and Maasholm for the winter. A complete repair is only possible in spring. more

After the severe Baltic Sea storm surge, the state government agreed on financial help for those affected. The height and design are still open. more

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NDR 1 Wave North | News for Schleswig-Holstein | Oct 26, 2023 | 4:00 p.m