Remembering 1997 and bracing for another possible flood year in 2009
In the year 1997 and the years before, snow would fall, but it wouldn’t stick around for vary long. Now I am looking out at a seemly endless blanket of while, broken only by roads, sidewalks, driveway, and roof tops. Its so beautiful, but this late in the year its the kind of beauty has the potential to become both deadly and destructive.
In 1997, my neighborhood was abandoned by the city of Fargo. We where completely depended on each other and volunteers. I still have memories of filling sandbags and the volunteers who helped me and my neighbors save our homes. I also remember my mom sending me and my little sister to stay with our aunt in Minnesota for part of the flood year.
I though we had it ruff in my home town, then I saw images of Grand Forks North Dakota, on the news. Some of the people of Grand Forks had to admit defeat before they could save parts of their city. I guess that hit home for me, because I used to live there and for all I knew my old school, was some where under all of that water.
fast-forward to this morning, I just dragged myself out of bed to grab a bite before work. My mom is on the phone with my brother talking about how the flooding this year could be worse then it was in 1997! I mad a small grunting noise not fully tacking in the situation, but fully remembering what the flooding was like during my child hood in 1997.
If the flooding forecast is correct I hope that people flock to Fargo, Moorhead, and other places that will be in need. There are so many of us, like myself, who have never forgotten the debt we owe to everyone who has helped us in the past. And while we might never be able to repay them with money, we hope to repay them with the same kindness they have shown us.
So please, remember 1997 and lend a hand to the people of the Midwestern United States, if the flood waters hit. I know that many people will remember if you do and all of them will be grateful for years to come.
In 1997, my neighborhood was abandoned by the city of Fargo. We where completely depended on each other and volunteers. I still have memories of filling sandbags and the volunteers who helped me and my neighbors save our homes. I also remember my mom sending me and my little sister to stay with our aunt in Minnesota for part of the flood year.
I though we had it ruff in my home town, then I saw images of Grand Forks North Dakota, on the news. Some of the people of Grand Forks had to admit defeat before they could save parts of their city. I guess that hit home for me, because I used to live there and for all I knew my old school, was some where under all of that water.
fast-forward to this morning, I just dragged myself out of bed to grab a bite before work. My mom is on the phone with my brother talking about how the flooding this year could be worse then it was in 1997! I mad a small grunting noise not fully tacking in the situation, but fully remembering what the flooding was like during my child hood in 1997.
If the flooding forecast is correct I hope that people flock to Fargo, Moorhead, and other places that will be in need. There are so many of us, like myself, who have never forgotten the debt we owe to everyone who has helped us in the past. And while we might never be able to repay them with money, we hope to repay them with the same kindness they have shown us.
So please, remember 1997 and lend a hand to the people of the Midwestern United States, if the flood waters hit. I know that many people will remember if you do and all of them will be grateful for years to come.