"Ahrtal" - The Unforgotten: Remembering Johanna on Her 26th Birthday
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Truncated connection revealed: Johanna, flood victim, would have turned 26 years old - "Rips apart the connection": At 26 years old, Joanna, flood victim, disconnects
On the day that should have seen 26 candles on Johanna's birthday cake, a somber gathering will instead take place at her parents' home. The remains of her special day will go unused, as her seat at the table remains empty. Her loved ones, those who can bear the pain, will come together to honor her memory.
In the summer of 2021, Johanna, then just 22, was swept away in the Ahr Valley flood disaster. Since then, her devoted parents have tirelessly fought for accountability and memory, aiming to ensure their daughter's tragic death wasn't in vain.
"She called in terror"
The horrifying memories of that fateful night are still etched in the parents' minds, four harsh years later. That night, the phone rang, bringing their terrified daughter's panicked voice to them. Around midnight, she cried out, claiming it was dark, the furniture was moving, and she couldn't open her apartment door.
Her door was usually effortless to open, her mother Inka Orth recalls. "Johanna was a slight girl," she explains. "My husband tried to calm her, searching for a way out. But then the connection was lost."
The parents didn't wait, immediately attempting to reach their daughter. "Of course, we called her back, over and over again," remembers Inka Orth. "There was absolutely no connection." A heart-wrenching sense of foreboding settled over them as they flew to Mallorca that morning.
If Johanna had managed to open that apartment door, she might have escaped to the staircase.
"She was truly an ideal child"
Johanna's parents speak fondly of their daughter, painting a loving and affectionate picture of their then 22-year-old. "She was really an ideal child," her mother confesses. "She couldn't stand arguments at all. It was the worst thing for her. She was incredibly conscious of harmony."
The family was close, with Johanna phoning them several times a day to share her emotions. The 60-year-old can still remember the last evening they spent together before the couple went on vacation. Johanna was studying business administration and had become a pastry chef. That day, she happened to be in person, and Johanna would have joined them on that day of vacation. But Johanna stayed.
On the last evening, she was still in the parents' office, saying goodbye. "It was really difficult for me to leave the next day for vacation," the 60-year-old recalls. "And then we both hugged her and told her: 'You are already missed infinitely.'" Those words now hold a profound meaning.
"Yesterday cannot be changed"
The couple has been relentless in their pursuit of legal accountability since the catastrophe. They have, for instance, filed a complaint against the suspension of investigations. "Despite many reports we submitted, the investigations have still not been reopened," Ralph Orth discloses.
Why persist? "Yesterday cannot be fixed," Ralph Orth explains. "But establishing clear accountability for future catastrophes or similar events is essential."
Ralph Orth sums up the public prosecutor's assessment of the situation: "It's just a natural event, it happened, end of story." He finds this perspective unacceptable. "Because there are responsibilities."
Inka Orth confesses that she still doesn't understand why there were no evacuation plans. "We believe that human life should be the top priority above all else," she muses. "Regardless of the position one holds, this should be the priority every day."
"It's anguishing to see these places"
Despite this, the couple feels at home in the Ahr Valley. "We have our family, our son, our home, and of course, Johanna's grave. That's all in Bad Neuenahr, that's our home, and we're there regularly," says the 61-year-old father. "Returning to these places where we have memories, it's painful. That's why it's good that we also spend time regularly in Hamburg." They have a second home there.
A memorial to Johanna has been erected in their Hamburg home. "We wanted to realize Johanna's dream of her own patisserie with her," says Inka Orth. "Yes, we were eagerly waiting for that." She also wished to bake Christmas cookies with Johanna using her mother-in-law's recipe.
Johanna had already chosen a storefront in Bad Neuenahr and written a business plan, but then the flood came. Her parents have continued her dream. Since late 2024, they have been operating the "Patisserie Johanna" in Hamburg.
"Do you have any desires for the future?" Ralph Orth confesses that he hopes that more people will focus on what truly matters in life. "You can find yourself relying on the state very quickly. And then the protection that the state should provide is not there," he says. "We felt that firsthand, with the most difficult and worst thing that can happen, losing a child in such a situation."
He wishes that more people would consider. "Because it can happen to anyone. No one is exempt from such a situation. It can happen to anyone, at any time."
- The community policy should include provisions for addressing tragedies like the Ahrtal disaster, ensuring accountability and preventive measures.
- Workplace-wellness programs could potentially provide support for employees dealing with chronic medical conditions, such as chronic kidney disease, COPD, type-2 diabetes, or cancer.
- The memorial service will also serve as a reminder for policy makers to consider the impact of respiratory conditions and digestive health issues in their employment policies.
- Eye-health and hearing screenings could be incorporated into workplace-wellness programs to support employees with various health concerns.
- Mental health, fitness, and exercise programs could also be included in employment policies to address a broader range of health issues.
- Alzheimer's disease, autoimmune disorders, and men's health should also be considered in the development of comprehensive employment policies.
- Skin care and therapies and treatments for various skin conditions should be addressed in employment policies, particularly for those working in sectors with potential exposure to chemicals or adverse conditions.
- As some employees may be dealing with aging-related challenges, health-and-wellness initiatives should address the needs of an aging workforce.
- Women's health issues, including reproductive health and breast cancer awareness, should also be considered in the development of employment policies.
- Parenting support, including flexible work arrangements and access to resources for childcare, should be addressed in employment policies to support working parents.
- Policymakers should consider multiple-sclerosis, migraine, and cardiovascular-health issues in their employment policies, as these conditions can impact productivity and quality of life.
- Psoriasis, a common skin condition, should be acknowledged in employment policies, as it can lead to self-consciousness and stress in the workplace.
- Medicare policies should be scrutinized to ensure equal and affordable access to healthcare for all, especially in the context of disasters like the Ahrtal flood.
- The use of CBD as a potential treatment for various medical conditions should be considered in workplace-wellness programs and employment policies.
- Rheumatoid arthritis and neurological disorders, such as migraines, should be addressed in employment policies to ensure accommodations for those affected.
- breast-cancer awareness and early detection should be emphasized in employment policies to support employees impacted by this disease.
- Employers should implement policies to address skin conditions, particularly conditions caused by car accidents, as they can impact an employee's ability to work.
- General news sources and crime and justice reporting should be monitored to identify potential workplace safety issues, such as accidents and fires, which could lead to policy changes.
- Policy makers should aim for a balanced approach, considering the needs of the community, employees, and the overall well-being of all.
