KAHR – Conclusion of the Research Project on Reconstruction Processes After the 2021 Flood
In collaboration with twelve consortium partners, the RER Research Group (Stefan Greiving, Mark Fleischhauer, Marisa Fuchs) has made significant contributions to the topics of risk-based planning and community resilience.
A key focus was the development and testing of a risk-based planning approach to make reconstruction in flood-affected areas more sustainable and resilient. In January 2023, a gaming simulation was conducted in Erftstadt to test the implementation of this approach within urban land-use planning. Additionally, during a municipal consultation meeting in the Aachen City Region in May 2024, the developed solutions for risk-based planning were discussed using three practical case studies.
At the same time, RER examined and promoted community resilience in affected neighbourhoods in Hagen. Through storytelling formats, for example, RER – together with committed local actors – helped strengthen social networks and facilitate the exchange of experiences and coping strategies.
The (interim) results were continuously integrated into the science-practice dialogue of the KAHR project and discussed with experts from the affected regions in North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate. A key networking opportunity was the regional Synthesis and Networking Conference in November 2024, where central findings of the KAHR project were presented.
To support practical implementation, various guidelines were developed in cooperation with different partners, including:
- The KAHR information brochure,
- The guide Strengthening Flood Resilience of Outdoor Sports Facilities,
- The practical guide Enhancing the Resilience of Power Supply Systems to Heavy Rain and Flooding,
- The concept paper Erzähl Connect,
- The practical guide After the Flood Disaster: Opportunities for Change (not yet published).
With these practice-oriented materials, KAHR hopes to contribute to long-term resilient development and reconstruction in flood-affected regions.
Acknowledgment: A project like this thrives on the collaboration of many dedicated actors. Our heartfelt thanks go to all those involved – the consortium partners, experts from professional practice, and the residents of the affected regions – who contributed their time, knowledge, and experience.