People will be contacted by mail and asked about their personal circumstances and views. They can document how they were directly affected by the flood and how it still affects them today. There are questions covering private and business reconstruction as well as political attitudes. Finally, SOZIAHR's population survey also asks about social support and the political reckoning with the flood disaster.
People's responses are needed now
To obtain robust results, the research team now needs the participation of people in the Ahr Valley. The more evaluable responses that come in, the better. The questionnaire was tailored precisely to the situation of people in the Ahr Valley, tested together with those affected, and then further refined. As a result, effects such as "deep exhaustion" or "loss of trust in public institutions" were also included in the questionnaire. The results will be compiled by April 2027 and then presented to the public. The aim is to give the people of the Ahr Valley a voice. The findings gathered are intended to support political debates on the reconstruction process and general regional development. The insights gained will feed into scientific recommendations, which will be actively brought to the attention of political decision-makers at various levels.
The project
Soziahr is developing recommendations for action for the Ahr Valley. The thematic focus is on linking climate resilience and social justice. The aim is to make legal regulations and administrative processes for private reconstruction in the context of extreme weather events more effective overall. Since 2024, an associated workshop process with regional experts on "social challenges in reconstruction" has already been underway, in cooperation with the "Science for Reconstruction" competence network at Koblenz University of Applied Sciences, to support practice-oriented solution processes.