Johanna's Lost Birthday: Remembering the 22-year-old Victim of the Devastating 2021 Ahrtal Flood
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The link was abruptly terminated. - "Joanna, the flood victim, rips the connection"
On what should have been Johanna's 26th birthday, her parents and friends will gather to honor her memory, rather than celebrate. The Ahrtal flood robbed Johanna from them four years ago, and her parents have been tirelessly fighting for justice ever since.
The Fateful Night
Johanna's parents still vividly remember the phone call they received that fateful night. Around midnight, their daughter called in a panic. The flooding had started, and the furnishings were moving chaotically. She was trapped in her apartment, unable to open the door. Despite their best efforts to reach her, the connection was lost.
Imagining what could have been, Johanna's father recalls how, if she had managed to open the door, she might have been able to escape to the staircase. Sadly, things turned out differently, and Johanna remains one of the 136 victims of the Ahr Valley flood disaster in Rhineland-Palatinate.
A Dream Daughter
"Johanna was truly a dream of a child," her mother remembers. She was affectionate and couldn't stand arguments. The family was close, with Johanna calling them multiple times a day. They knew almost every emotion she experienced.
On the last day before their vacation, Johanna was in their office and said her goodbyes. Her parents left the next day, filled with a profound sadness. "We both hugged her and told her, 'You are already missed infinitely.' Those words now hold a whole new meaning for us," Johanna's mother says.
** ongoing Struggle for Accountability**
Fighting for legal accountability since the disaster, Johanna's parents have submitted numerous reports and filed complaints against the suspension of investigations. "The past cannot be made good, but clear responsibility must be established for future disasters," says Johanna's father.
The local public prosecutor's office has dismissed the flood as a "natural event," excusing themselves and leaving the family frustrated. "That's a tragic perspective from our point of view," Johanna's father states. "There are responsibilities after all."
A Home Amidst Memories
Johanna's parents still feel at home in the Ahr Valley. They have a grave site there, and their son also resides nearby. However, returning to their old home, filled with memories, is challenging. "Seeing these places where we shared happy moments is certainly painfully nostalgic," Johanna's father admits.
In Hamburg, they have erected a memorial to Johanna, honoring her dream of having her own pastry shop. In late 2024, they opened the "Patisserie Johanna" in Hamburg, continuing her dream in her absence.
Looking Forward
Johanna's parents wish more people would focus on what truly matters in life. One can easily find oneself in a situation where one is overly reliant on the state for protection, which may not always be forthcoming, as their family has tragically discovered.
"It can happen to anyone at any time," Johanna's father warns. "No one is immune to such a situation. No one." The family's determination to ensure accountability serves as a poignant reminder that we never know when disaster might strike.
- In memoriam of Johanna, her community is considering integrating a policy on disaster preparedness and emergency response within their community policy, emphasizing the importance of individual self-reliance and collective action in times of crisis, learning from the tragic Ahrtal flood incident.
- As part of the healing process, Johanna's family has also encouraged increased emphasis on health-and-wellness, mental health, and fitness-and-exercise in both the employment policy and daily life, as a means of promoting overall well-being and resilience, following their personal experience with the Ahrtal flood disaster.
