Flood Disaster: An online platform for flood relief equipment

Mountains of damaged furniture and electronic waste in the tray. Photo: Herald Tittle / DPA Photo: dpa

Urgent help is needed after a flood disaster. There is now an online portal to manage this help centrally.

The Ministry of Maine-Rhineland-Palatinate Social Affairs has set up an online platform for pledges of assistance, especially in the aftermath of the floods.

The message says that the “Flood Aid” portal offers help and seeks to bring together. Citizens can post offers, for example, donations by type or accommodation. Affected individuals can indicate missing items on the platform.

Initially, only private individuals can register on the portal. Since the Internet and equipment are only available in limited quantities in the affected areas, registered people can also notify offers and inquiries on behalf of other affected persons. Therefore this function should be activated immediately.

“What is needed on the site can be delivered to the right place through the online help platform,” said Alexander Schweitzer, Minister for Social Affairs (SPD), and Detlef Plasek, the state government’s victim commissioner. Many of the affected people felt powerless and helpless. The platform may become a “sign of compassion and hope.”