In August 2002 the Elbe river and its tributaries burst their banks. The dramatic devastation that followed left several people dead. The floods destroyed houses, roads and railway lines in a vast area that used to be part of the former East Germany. Years of infrastructure investment were suddenly swept away. Although the physical scars of the devastation are healing thanks to the instant wave of support, this catastrophe will be remembered for a long time. The shock of the sudden loss still weighs heavily on the minds of the victims. Only now that most of the reconstruction is completed, many are beginning to feel the emotional impact of the catastrophe.
