Recovery captivity and resilience five years after the floods in the Ahr valley, Germany, for building back better

Abstract The aim is to analyse the 2021 floods in Western Europe, specifically in Germany, and to assess whether building back better is underway. The study analyses recovery and reconstruction in one of the most affected areas, the Ahr valley, where floods claimed over 130 lives and destroyed about 9000 houses. This approach uses field visits, interviews, and literature analysis. Recovery captivity is analysed in terms of the struggles of reconstruction and the hindrance factors to relocation, through a literature review of current scientific studies and media analysis, and field visits. The findings reveal persistent gaps and demand in the governance of reconstruction and in communication between officials and the population. Building back better, as demanded by the United Nations, occurs in a limited sense, especially from the perspective of affected citizens. Lessons learned can be applied to other regions struggling with recovery or facing similar floods.