The floods at the beginning of June left massive damage in many parts of Baden-Württemberg. Even small rivers like the Rot developed a destructive force due to the heavy rain that lasted for days. Homeowner Diana Botzenmayer from Edelbeuren also had to experience this. Now she is hoping for donations.
“Until the water came in, I didn’t realise what was actually going on,” the 26-year-old remembers. “It came from everywhere. Through the floor, the bathtub and from the toilet.” On June 1st, the Rot had overflowed its banks within a few hours and was soon knee-deep on the ground floor of Diana Botzenmayer’s house. Together with neighbours, she had already stacked sandbags during the night. “We only did it to be on the safe side. We didn’t think anything would actually come,” she says.
This is how high the repair costs are
But in the morning everything happened very quickly. At 6 a.m. the fire brigade pumped out the first cellars, and at 10 a.m. Diana Botzemayer was no longer allowed into her house for safety reasons. She had to leave her three cats behind and was only able to get them the following night. When the situation calmed down, it became clear: the flood had turned the house into a large construction site and made it uninhabitable. Floors, walls, stairs and the aging pellet heating system were destroyed.
Videos: Diana Botzenmayer
It was only in December 2022 that the then 24-year-old had fulfilled her dream of owning her own home: 80 square meters in a “perfect condition,” as the young woman says. Repair costs are now being added to the monthly installments for the house purchase. 175,000 in damage: that is the initial estimate from the building insurance. But the actual costs are significantly higher. Diana Botzenmayer estimates that she will have to pay another 50,000 euros out of her own pocket.
Instead of a pellet heating system, she wants to install a future-proof heat pump heating system. However, the insurance only covers the costs for the heating technology that was previously installed. “For the walls, the insurance only pays for the part that got wet plus 30 centimeters,” says Diana Botzenmayer. However, the plaster walls cannot only be replaced in half; they have to be completely replaced.
Donations are more than “just” financial support
In order not to be eaten up by the costs, she finally had a Online donation appeal on “Go Fund Me”. Private individuals can use the crowdfunding platform to raise money for emergencies or personal projects, among other things. Users share their concerns and their stories, others can donate any amount. “At first I didn’t dare to beg for help, but how am I supposed to manage this?” says the 26-year-old.
Diana Botzenmayer has set a donation target of 20,000 euros. So far, just over 2,000 euros have been received in the donation account – from friends as well as anonymous donors. According to her, the amounts sometimes reach into the mid-three-digit range. “I’m happy about every euro,” says the 26-year-old. The donations not only take the pressure off the account, they also give her hope: “It’s good for the soul to see how many people are behind me and supporting me.”
Work is already underway on her house. With the help of friends and neighbors, she has started the demolition. Now she is waiting for tradesmen. It could take until summer 2025 until everything is repaired.
