Of course, the helpers from the Brucker THW worked with heavy equipment in the flood area.
But the experiences that impressed themselves most deeply on them have to do with rather small things: for example with rescued wedding rings and photos.
Very close to people who have lost everything, they experienced deep feelings - from moments of happiness to complete despair.
Fürstenfeldbruck
- you will be called when the going gets tough.
Repairing pipes, crushing flotsam, treating water - no problem for the THW emergency services.
But in the flood area, the helpers from Fürstenfeldbruck are primarily challenged on a human level.
You are closely to blame for the fate of the victims in the particularly affected area.
For example, there is the couple who collapse when the people from THW have to tell him that their house can no longer be saved.
"That is very close to you," says Stefan Seitz, spokesman for the THW Fürstenfeldbruck.
+
The THW helpers can still save things from some houses - such as an intact washing machine (left).
© THW FFB
But there are also beautiful moments - for example when the helpers find wedding rings and hereditary jewelry in the remains of a building and can give them back to the owners.
“They were overjoyed,” says Seitz.
And even a still intact washing machine conjures up a smile on the face of its owners, at least for a short time.
It's one of the few items they have left.
Brucker THW in the flood area: Unimaginable devastation experienced first hand
The helpers knew what to expect in the flood area even before they left Fürstenfeldbruck.
Everyone knew the terrible pictures from the disaster region.
But seeing the unimaginable devastation with your own eyes was something else.
“It is simply unbelievable what destructive power water can have,” says Stefan Seitz.
But there is no room for big feelings during the mission.
On day 1, the 17 helpers from Bruck and their seven-strong support from Weilheim scour damaged buildings for the residents' personal belongings.
For example, for photo albums.
The residents have previously made sketches of where to look.
Structural engineers explain to the helpers exactly which parts of the house they are allowed to enter and where it is too dangerous.
+
In the river bed of the Ahr, the THW people had to saw down trunks so that the water would not build up.
© THW FFB
On day 2, the helpers from Bruck can put their entire technical know-how to the test.
It is necessary to pump residual water out of cellars and to salvage oil tanks.
In the Ahr itself, they have to use chainsaws to chop up flotsam and transport it away.
On day 3, the helpers devote themselves to drinking water treatment.
The pipeline network is contaminated by the flood.
For some helpers it goes underground.
It is necessary to explore the sewer system and install auxiliary pumps.
Brucker THW in North Rhine-Westphalia: "I've never seen whole houses and streets just being gone."
It was not the first flood operation for Stefan Seitz.
The 36-year-old has been with THW for 20 years.
“But I have never seen whole houses and streets just gone.” And he and his colleagues are not that close to people's suffering either.
However, they do not have to cope with this challenge on their own.
"When we had to tell the couple that their house had to be demolished, fortunately a psychologist from the crisis intervention was there," explains the THW spokesman.
The helpers are not left alone with their feelings either.
A so-called aftercare team is available to work through what has been experienced with the rescuers if necessary.
“We also learn in training how something like this can be mastered as well as possible,” explains Stefan Seitz.
He assumes that it was not the last time the Brucker THW was deployed in the flood region.
“We'll probably go back again to restore the infrastructure.” Because one thing is clear to him: There is still a lot to do in the destroyed places.
You can read more news
from Fürstenfeldbruck with us.
By the way: All developments and results for the upcoming federal election from your region as well as all other important stories from the FFB region are now also available in our regular FFB newsletter.