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LETTER: Kudos to emergency response teams in light of July 20 storm in Grand Forks

Grand Forks residents should be grateful for the response teams who worked in dangerous conditions after July 20's storm.

Editor:

All of us are grateful, or should be, for the response teams who worked in dangerous conditions to right the devastation after the storm that took out power, did damage and took a young life.

Our hearts go out to that family and their friends. We hear the reports of brave young people at Pines Bible Camp who helped younger campers from the terrors.

Congratulations for your bravery – I am sure those sentiments go out from all the church communities in town. Our thanks go out and others who do not go to church would feel the same as well, I trust. Well done.

The response teams that are righting the devastation need all of us to thank them.

I know I am so grateful that when we got home from church on Sunday our power on Son Ranch Road was on, and I could start putting all the emergency candles away and start to do the wash.

We had no complaints – all the trees up here will be great fire wood and none of us on our road were hurt.

We learned a lot about what we should have for survival, as we are likely to get more weird weather with global warming and scientists telling us this is what is in store.

My list is getting rather long: a battery radio, candles, a generator that works, a water source that is available without power, flashlights to be worn on heads, propane full bottles and food stored in canning jars or bottles.

A good producing garden to share with others ... My list is growing as I think of these things not so much for me, but my grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as the planet is telling us something very important.  “Stop destroying me,” is what our planet is saying as the greed goes on and on.

Thanks again to crews and all those who helped their neighbours in small and big ways with comfort and love and practical things like making generators work, and hauling water, and giving comfort and hugs.

Patricia Purdy, Grand Forks