Five years after the devastating flood disaster of July 14, 2021, the Ahr Valley in Rhineland-Palatinate shows clear signs of reconstruction and transformation. The catastrophe claimed 134 lives in the Ahr Valley and 184 lives across Germany. To address the damage to over 9,000 buildings, approximately 3.7 billion euros have been allocated through June 2026. While infrastructure and flood protection have been improved through new concepts, hourly water level measurements, and cell broadcast, funding for large-scale retention basins is still lacking. Political consequences led to the resignation of several ministers and the district administrator at the time. Despite the resurgence of tourism, the psychological burden on those affected remains high; the Ahr Valley Trauma Relief Center has provided over 8,000 consultations since 2021. Various memorial events are being held on the anniversary, including visits by Federal President Steinmeier and Chancellor Merz.