- Title: One month after deadly floods, German winegrower determined to stay positive
- Date: 13th August 2021
- Summary: ALTENAHR, GERMANY (FILE - JULY 16, 2021) (REUTERS) PEOPLE CROSSING BRIDGE ON FOOT WITH DEBRIS HANGING FROM IT
- Embargoed: 27th August 2021 17:54
- Keywords: Ahrtal valley German deadly floods cleanup devastation economy progress wine grower winery
- Location: ALTENAHR & SCHULD & BAD NEUENAHR-AHRWEILER & NEAR SWISTTAL, GERMANY
- City: ALTENAHR & SCHULD & BAD NEUENAHR-AHRWEILER & NEAR SWISTTAL, GERMANY
- Country: Germany
- Topics: Environment,Europe,Weather
- Reuters ID: LVA002EQ43GW7
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: A German winegrower whose almost 300-year-old family business was severely hit by deadly floods last month is determined to get back up on his feet one month on.
Lukas Sermann, who took over the winery from his father Elmar a while ago, says that while everybody is tired and "mentally exhausted," he was looking into the future "very positively."
The Sermanns have spent hours and hours cleaning wine bottles from mud which they rescued from their flooded cellars.
Lukas father Elmar Sermann said their next goal was "to bottle the first wine in December which means we will have wine again in nice, new bottles with nice, clean labels the way we are used to it."
More than 170 people died in last month's flooding, Germany's worst natural disaster in more than half a century.
Elmar Sermann said despite the hope to set up their business again as soon as possible, there were dark moments too.
"When you talk to people it becomes clear that in the evening, there is a tear shed here or there when you think about it all."
Insured losses from the floods may total 4 billion to 5 billion euros ($4.7-5.9 billion), according to the GDV insurance industry association.
Damage in the states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate is likely to exceed the 4.65 billion euros recorded after a deluge in August 2002, it said.
Only around 45% of homeowners in Germany have insurance that covers flood damage, according to the GDV, triggering a discussion about the need for compulsory insurance.
(Production: Andreas Kranz, Leon Kuegler, Michele Sani) - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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