Helping hands: HDI in action during the 2021 flood
It is one of the most severe natural disasters in Germany. The extent of the destruction caused by the floods in July can still be felt everywhere today. Maren Schaefer lends a hand to help the people affected. The HDI Group gave her time off to help on site. In Part 6 of the series "Our Purpose", we accompany her to the hard-hit Ahr Valley.
In the night of 15 July, more rain fell in parts of North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate than in the entire month. The heavy rain caused unimaginable destruction, more than 180 people died there alone. Other regions of Germany were also badly affected, with several dozen deaths in Belgium. A flood of the century.
"The first time I came here I was scared."
Months have passed, but the clean-up is still going on. Maren Schaefer and many other colleagues from the HDI Group have already travelled to the Ahr valley to help. Clearing out cellars, shovelling away mud, removing rubbish. The company gave them paid time off from work for this mission.