Here's what I know...
There is water up to the roofs of houses in our town.
Downtown businesses now can boast indoor swimming pools, but they have to be closed and will remain that way for a very long time.
Our schools have been drowned.
Many of my friends and extended family members are homeless in the sense they do not have their house walls around them, but they are not without love and support surrounding them and taking them in.
I have never been prouder to be a North Dakotan and from here. Because the way our town and the surrounding areas are handling this massive flooding disaster is out of this world. Words I say can not even start to explain the togetherness, the work ethic, the never give up, the willingness to help...it's truly inspiring to witness in these awful circumstances.
This is what they are referring to as a five hundred year flood. It's that bad.
Water is everywhere and water is a beast.
The flood of 2011 will never, never be forgotten or erased from the memories, the hearts, the souls of the people.
Here's what I don't know...
When will the water finally leave?
How long will clean up take?
Are things ever going to be normal here again?
Will my friends and extended family members have houses?
What are we going to do about school this fall?
Are people going to be permanently broken?
Are kids going to always be feeling displaced...like they are searching for home, for stability, for normalcy?
What happens next?
1 comment:
It is heartbreaking to drive through my neighborhood and see people's property scattered on the curb. It took days to take lifetimes away from these good folks we call our neighbors. These same good folk will stand up and will not let the muddy Mouse take their lives away. We are a strong breed here in Minot and I am very proud to say that Minot is my town and as a community we will get through this together!
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