Six weeks ago, many people lost their belongings as a result of the flood disaster. Some of them can soon recover from their worries by taking a break in the north.
Wangerland – A week’s vacation on the North Sea for victims of the flood disaster – this donation initiative from the Wangerland is attracting more and more circles.
By the beginning of September, almost 70 offers had been received from vacation rental owners to take in guests from the flood areas in North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate free of charge. That said the initiator Sara Graf in Horumersiel (Friesland district). The offers also come from other parts of East Frisia and from the islands.
Unusually heavy rain flooded many side valleys of the Rhine in mid-July, especially the Ahr valley in Rhineland-Palatinate was hit hard. More than 180 people died in the worst natural disaster in Germany in decades.
Time out from worries
In order to enable those affected to take a break from their worries, hotels or holiday apartments have donated free vacations in several regions. As early as August, people from Eschweiler in North Rhine-Westphalia came to the North Sea coast in the district of Cuxhaven. According to press reports, 85 free stays were also donated in Thuringia. There were other offers in the Allgäu.
If you’re in the middle of the clean-up work and don’t know what to do, “then you need a break,” said Sara Graf (34) about her idea. The branch manager of a supermarket on parental leave also looks after a neighbor’s holiday apartments. She was able to win this as the first donor. Then a flyer and the networking of the landlords of holiday apartments on the Internet ensured further contacts.
A friend used the vouchers to travel “like a fairy godmother” to the flood areas to select those in need, Graf said. This personal contact should remain – also out of responsibility towards the donors. The first guests are expected in September. But many of the donated vacations are still possible in the coming year. dpa
