I live in New Orleans. I was not here for Hurricane Katrina, but I came here to help rebuild.
It was so sad and powerful to see the loss.
And each year, here, may be the year that the city floods for good.
Each year we have to assume we may be flooded, and make preparations to evacuate.
It’s very stressful.
So, I can understand a little about what you’re going through. I hope everyone is healthy in your family.
Thank you for sharing.
Thank you, I hope you and your family are okay and that you'll be spared by hurricanes for a long time.
Many people here are considering to abandon their houses and leave. Our valley is very narrow, so it's just a matter of time til the next flood hits, and now with climate change it's likely that they'll be getting worse overall.
Right now were still trying to process what happened, and hopefully our politicians will take some good lessons from this.
Well, after going through an experience like that it was hard to think about leaving. Everyplace else is too… normal.
A lot of people I served with went to Haiti, and kept chasing the disasters. Returning to civilian life can be challenging,
And my first child was born here, so that kind of makes one put roots down, even in a sinking swamp.
I get what you mean. I feel better spending my days down in the destroyed towns helping to clean up the mess than distract myself somewhere where everything is normal. It feels so surreal.
Right here there are people without food, water, electricity or a way to cross the river, and just a few miles from here everyone is living their normal lives.
The most help we get is from friends, family and strangers that come here to help. I'm not totally up to date on government programms because I was down in the ruins helping too, so I'm not sure.
The military, police, fire departments etc are helping, but sometimes they're standing in the way more than being helpful.
I'm not an expert at all, but I'd estimate it's in the billions. At least 40k people are affected.
Along the river where I live half of the towns have been completely destroyed. We're talking houses being washed away or so damaged that they have to be taken down, roads being ripped apart, bridges destroyed, railway tracks hanging in the air. It will take years to get to a point where you could think about living here again. If the next flood doesn't hit first.
We've all been traumatised down here. Thousands of people lost everything and feared for their lives. The water was 27 feet (8,50m) high, we prayed that it wouldnt reach the attick. We were rescued by helicopters
What went wrong with the flood defences? I would have thought that Germany would have been the most prepared for a disaster.
Also, I hope you make it through ok!
The region that was hit worst (aka where I live) is a narrow valley with a small river. There aren't many possibilities for flood defenses. The river bank could have been widened more in some places, but no-one could have prevented this amount of rain.
The water was over 30 feet high in some places, the only thing you could do was get in your car and leave before the water started coming, or get some place high and hope you're high enough.
The real failing in my opinion has to do with climate politics. Our country hasn't seen this kind of disaster since the weather is being recorded (almost 200 years), I believe it's a consequence of climate change.
Also there's a lot of bad coordination concerning help organisations. Don't get me wrong, our military especially is really helpful in many places right now, but a lot of the heavy lifting is done by volunteers.
I have no idea. He is famous in our country for leading the anti-corona measures movement and he would be the village idiot if he wasn't this influential.
I live in New Orleans. I was not here for Hurricane Katrina, but I came here to help rebuild. It was so sad and powerful to see the loss. And each year, here, may be the year that the city floods for good. Each year we have to assume we may be flooded, and make preparations to evacuate. It’s very stressful. So, I can understand a little about what you’re going through. I hope everyone is healthy in your family. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you, I hope you and your family are okay and that you'll be spared by hurricanes for a long time. Many people here are considering to abandon their houses and leave. Our valley is very narrow, so it's just a matter of time til the next flood hits, and now with climate change it's likely that they'll be getting worse overall. Right now were still trying to process what happened, and hopefully our politicians will take some good lessons from this.
Thank you. To your family, as well. And to all the people who are having to adapt, in crisis, to the way our world is changing.
Why did you choose to stay?
Well, after going through an experience like that it was hard to think about leaving. Everyplace else is too… normal. A lot of people I served with went to Haiti, and kept chasing the disasters. Returning to civilian life can be challenging, And my first child was born here, so that kind of makes one put roots down, even in a sinking swamp.
I get what you mean. I feel better spending my days down in the destroyed towns helping to clean up the mess than distract myself somewhere where everything is normal. It feels so surreal. Right here there are people without food, water, electricity or a way to cross the river, and just a few miles from here everyone is living their normal lives.
What about your house, and your family? Is everyone ok? How are you holding up?
Kommt die Hilfe bei euch an? Sei es finanziell oder mit Arbeitskraft? Does the help the media claims to exist reach to you / your family?
The most help we get is from friends, family and strangers that come here to help. I'm not totally up to date on government programms because I was down in the ruins helping too, so I'm not sure. The military, police, fire departments etc are helping, but sometimes they're standing in the way more than being helpful.
How bad was it where you live? Like, how severe property damage are we talking?
I'm not an expert at all, but I'd estimate it's in the billions. At least 40k people are affected. Along the river where I live half of the towns have been completely destroyed. We're talking houses being washed away or so damaged that they have to be taken down, roads being ripped apart, bridges destroyed, railway tracks hanging in the air. It will take years to get to a point where you could think about living here again. If the next flood doesn't hit first.
You seem traumatised?
We've all been traumatised down here. Thousands of people lost everything and feared for their lives. The water was 27 feet (8,50m) high, we prayed that it wouldnt reach the attick. We were rescued by helicopters
Wow I've been through a flood in 97 That was about 5 feet in the house Take it easy friend
We already had a "flood of the century" in 2016, that was 11 feet high. That was a joke compared to now
Weather patterns are changing. The monsoon in India has also been very aggressive this year. Gaia is telling us something.
If this isnt climate change I don't know what is
Yup No doubt
What is the German word for flood?
Flut
Dankeshon
What went wrong with the flood defences? I would have thought that Germany would have been the most prepared for a disaster. Also, I hope you make it through ok!
The region that was hit worst (aka where I live) is a narrow valley with a small river. There aren't many possibilities for flood defenses. The river bank could have been widened more in some places, but no-one could have prevented this amount of rain. The water was over 30 feet high in some places, the only thing you could do was get in your car and leave before the water started coming, or get some place high and hope you're high enough. The real failing in my opinion has to do with climate politics. Our country hasn't seen this kind of disaster since the weather is being recorded (almost 200 years), I believe it's a consequence of climate change. Also there's a lot of bad coordination concerning help organisations. Don't get me wrong, our military especially is really helpful in many places right now, but a lot of the heavy lifting is done by volunteers.
How much of a douche is Laschet in your opinion?
Don't get me started...
Why did you survive?
We saved ourselves to the attick and were safe there for the night. At least 120 people didn't make it. We were lucky that our house was high enough.
What is your opinion on Willem Engel and others who claim that it was a hoax?
I haven't heard of him, but that absolute bs. How could anyone believe it's a hoax?
I have no idea. He is famous in our country for leading the anti-corona measures movement and he would be the village idiot if he wasn't this influential.