NRW Prime Minister Armin Laschet calls for a summit after the flood disaster.
This week he wants to consult with the federal, state and local governments - about finances and more provision.
Düsseldorf - North Rhine-Westphalia's Prime Minister Armin Laschet (CDU) wants to discuss financial aid with the municipalities affected by the storm this week.
He said that on Sunday evening in a television address on the WDR according to a pre-published speech manuscript.
Talks are also being held with the federal government.
"A national disaster also needs a quick national response," said the Union's candidate for chancellor.
"I am working on this under high pressure with my colleagues in the state and federal government." He also wants to meet with local representatives "to advise how we can structure the financial aid to quickly rebuild our homeland".
Laschet made it clear that removing the damage would be a feat.
“As a country, we are doing everything we can to get the direct effects of the disaster under control.” The crisis teams met around the clock.
"We will still feel the wounds of these days for a long time," said the Christian Democrat.
"The reconstruction will take months, even years."
As a consequence of the flood disaster, he calls for more precautions against extreme weather.
"We have to build dams, retention basins, water reservoirs, renaturalize areas - protection not only on the Rhine, but also on the large and the many small rivers all over the country," said Laschet.
"In short: protecting nature, the environment, life and limb - effectively strengthening the immune system of our home country so that we are better equipped against extreme weather conditions."
The frequency and severity of such catastrophes are also a result of climate change, Laschet affirmed.
“We have to fight it faster and more consistently here and around the world.
The climate does not allow any delay. "
In the televised address, the CDU chancellor candidate also remembered the firefighter who was killed in Altena.
Laschet reported on the phone call with the 46-year-old's widow.
“She told me that her husband wanted to instill values in young people.
He wanted to be a role model.
He is even more.
He's a hero, ”said Laschet.
He stands for the thousands who do their job every day and risk life and limb.
The firefighter fell into the water and drowned in the dramatic flood on Wednesday afternoon in Altena - a town in the Märkisches Kreis - after rescuing a man.
His colleagues had only been able to rescue him dead.
After looting in Eschweiler near Aachen, which was hit by the storm, three suspects are in custody, as Laschet explained. Eschweiler is particularly hard hit by the effects of the flood. "It makes me angry when I hear that right now people are returning to their devastated houses and finding that looters have stolen what little they have left," said the Prime Minister. dpa