President's Point: April 2018

This year, the first day of A will bring Easter celebrations. For many folks, Easter means time with family! Easter is a time of renewal, and it is also a time to reflect on one’s life. We in New Rockford are lucky to have a community that continues to give back. Be it our volunteers in the Ambulance Department or the Fire Department, or the civic organizations such as the Lions, Eagles, American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary. Each one has done something to strengthen New Rockford. The most recent example being the fundraiser at the Eagles for the little one undergoing cancer treatment, or any of the numerous fundraising efforts for her and the other child undergoing major surgery. To all New Rockford citizens who have given to these and other efforts, thank you!

Now that I have boosted your spirit by talking about the good New Rockford does, I shall throw a little mud...pun intended! In the springtime, we get wet muddy conditions and an increase in vehicle traffic. Also school children, although still in school, have a tendency to be out and about enjoying the sunshine. Please be careful when driving. Even though the winter ice and snow will soon be gone, the water from the snowmelt and spring rains can cause roadways to be slick. Remember low-lying and shaded areas are places to be cautious of slippery roads. Another concern is standing water in traffic areas, mainly after a heavy rain. Please do not drive through standing water, although you may think that it would be cool to see the water flow over the hood of the vehicle, doing so increases your odds of stalling your vehicle in the roadway and even possibly drowning! The New Rockford area does not have underpasses or other low areas that do not drain quickly, such as Fessenden, Devils Lake, Grand Forks and Minot, so use caution when traveling as well.

Another area of safety concern is having a severe weather plan for possible tornadoes. Your plan should include locating a safe area in the home, stocking emergency supplies, etc. You can research this information online, contact the Eddy County Emergency Management office or call Todd Allmaras, the New Rockford Fire Department Fire Chief. Some generalities pulled from my U.S. Air Force Safety training are: The northwest corner of a basement is the preferred safety spot. If no basement is available, then a ground floor bathroom will do. Bathrooms tend to be the smaller of the rooms with fewer windows, less furniture and potential flying debris. Regardless of where you shelter, you will want to limit exposure to windows and possibly hazardous objects such as wall mirrors, etc. If you are seeking shelter in your bathroom and the shower has sliding glass doors, you can remove these doors and place them out of the way until after the tornado threat. Some materials and supplies that you will want to have at the ready in this safe room/area are: A battery operated radio set to the local news outlet, a flashlight with working batteries, replacement batteries for the radio and flashlights and blankets for all persons in this safe area. Food should be items that can be stored without refrigeration and eaten uncooked. Examples of include raisins, canned fruit, canned tuna, canned spam, nuts, beef jerky, etc. Have a non-glass container that has a secure cap filled with drinking water. You should have one gallon of water per person in this safe area. Having a charged cellphone is always a good idea in an emergency. Other non-critical items would be games or favorite toys for the children. Books, puzzles, board games or a deck of cards can help pass the time and take the focus off the emergency weather conditions.

Please have a safe spring and enjoy the warmer weather!