The Flood in Western Germany

Between Tuesday, July 13, and Thursday, July 15, 2021, more than about twice the amount of rainfall expected for the entire month of July fell in parts of the western German states of Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia - causing major rivers to burst their banks and sweep away entire villages.

Studies will need to be done to determine whether or not these floods would have taken place without climate change. But scientists say it is safe to assume that it wouldn’t have rained so much, for so long, without the warming of the planet. Warmer air can hold more moisture and Germany’s average temperature has risen by more than 1.6°C over pre-industrial times.

The effects of climate change, which for people in Central Europe only had an impact on faraway countries, have now also arrived in Germany.

For our photo essay “The Flood in Western Germany” we documented the destruction, the pain and the hardships of reconstruction in the flooded areas. Since July 15, we have been photographing as a collective in the affected regions, building relationships, accompanying evacuation and repatriation, following emergency workers and volunteers.

Our goal is to continue our work and travel repeatedly to the areas in the coming months, revisiting those affected, rebuilding, and coping with the events. How is the region changing? What is the situation like for those affected months after their experiences? What are the psychological, social, and economic consequences of the flood and the reconstruction in the communities?

DOCKS, is a collective of five documentary photographers who act upon a shared open-mindedness, honesty and sensitivity. "The Flood in Western Germany" is the first jointly photographed work of the collective, for which the members gave up their individual authorship.