![]() “The water is still flowing knee-high through the streets, parked cars are thrown sideways, and trash and debris are piling up on the sides,” Alexander Bange, the district spokesman in the Märkische region of North Rhine-Westphalia, told the German news agency D.P.A. Two firefighters died while trying to rescue people in Altena, in North Rhine-Westphalia, the police said. Hundreds of firefighters worked through the night to evacuate people who had been left stranded. “Everything that can be done, wherever we can help, we will do that,” she said, adding that Germany had received offers of help from its European partners. She pledged the support of the German government for the affected regions. ![]() Merkel, who was visiting Washington Thursday, expressed her condolences to those who had lost loved ones and thanked the thousands of helpers. Many others were still being rescued, although some villages remained unreachable. “This relationship is more than just a sister city, these are our friends,” Tyssen said.The authorities reported at least 43 deaths in North Rhine-Westphalia, where at least 15 people were known to have died in the district of Euskirchen, south of Düsseldorf. “It’s not just about a good relationship,” Shim said, “it’s about being there when someone needs you there.”įor Tyssen, however, friendship was at the core of their diplomatic work. Nearly 16 years later, Tinley Park was able to return the favor by helping Budingen when the town flooded.ĭiplomacy plays a big part in a sister city relationship, and Jina Shim, the Communications and Programs Coordinator of Sister Cities International, stressed how important diplomatic work is in maintaining a good rapport between sister cities. Budingen also helped during this time and donated $10,000 to the Village, which was then used to give everyone affected by Katrina spending money. When Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in 2005, Tinley Park housed 100 displaced people in the Tinley Park Mental Health Center. Tyssen said that with citizen donations and a donation from the village, they were able to raise $10,000 in aid to send to Budingen.Įven aside from the Sister Cities program, Tinley has always had a heart for helping those in need, even when they come from miles away. Members of the commission traveled to Budingen for the occasion and called it “a nice meeting of cultures and people.” In her 10 years working in the Sister Cities Commission, Tyssen has helped foster the relationship between the two cities. ![]() Roxane Tyssen, Secretary of the Commission, recalled when Budingen and Tinley Park commemorated their 30 th anniversary in December of 2019. “A lot of people have lost their means of existence,” she said when speaking of the business owners and other residents of Budingen.Īs a member of the parliament, Huxorn-Engler has been working with other parliamentarians to build an effective flood retention system. ![]() Sieglinde Huxorn-Engler, who is the Chair of Budingen’s Sister Cities Society and a resident of one of the villages in the town, says that while she hasn’t suffered any personal property damage from the flood, it has deeply affected the businesses, where she frequented in the area, and the town parliament building, where she is a member. “We just want to help out no matter what,” said David Niemeyer, Tinley Park Village Manager, who is also heading the fundraising efforts. With the damage done to the city of Budingen, the Sister Cities Commission, along with the assistance of the Village of Tinley Park, have been raising funds for them ever since news broke about the flood. Budingen and Tinley Park have maintained a sister-city relationship for more than 30 years and have partaken in many customs over the years that strengthened their bond. A Sister City’s Kindness is Remembered in the Aftermath of a FloodĪfter a devastating flood in Budingen, Germany, their sister city of Tinley Park, Illinois, remembered the help they received in their time of need and decided to send aid to the city of Budingen. The news post below was written by Columbia Chicago College student, Jordan Perkins! Read the story below.
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