Based on the Erzähl Connect storytelling formats of the KAHR research project, SkF Hagen and Sven Söhnchen established a writing workshop in Hagen-Eckesey. In a newly published book, residents document their personal experiences of the 2021 flood disaster and its long-term impacts.

In the summer of 2021, the heavy rainfall event Bernd caused severe damage across many parts of Germany. The district of Eckesey in the city of Hagen was among the areas heavily affected by flooding. While public attention primarily focused on the immediate damage and reconstruction efforts, the personal experiences of affected residents often remained less visible.

Against this backdrop, the Research Group of Regional Development and Risk Management (RER) at TU Dortmund University organised a series of so-called Erzähl Connects in Hagen-Eckesey as part of the KAHR research project. These low-threshold storytelling formats provided residents with an opportunity to share their experiences of the flood disaster, reflect on their memories, and engage in dialogue with one another.

Building on these Erzähl Connects, the Flood Relief Office of the Social Service of Catholic Women (SkF) Hagen and Sven Söhnchen from Hagen subsequently established a writing workshop. Participants documented their personal memories and experiences related to the flood disaster. The resulting texts address topics such as the loss of personal belongings, challenges during the reconstruction process, experiences of support and neighbourhood assistance, and the lasting impacts of the event on everyday life.

These contributions have now been published in a collective volume, complemented by photographs from the Eckesey district (ISBN: 978-3942184908). The book documents diverse perspectives on the flood disaster and highlights the long-term social and personal consequences associated with such extreme events.

At the same time, the publication illustrates how a storytelling format can stimulate longer-term local activities. The Erzähl Connects created an initial framework for exchanging experiences and strengthening local dialogue. The writing workshop that emerged from these encounters continued this process and contributed to preserving and making visible individual and collective memories of the flood disaster.

Book cover; © Sven Söhnchen, Ingo Espenhorst, Petra Skibbe