LOSER LOSER

No there were the 15 people with jobs that stayed at work.

at least we have jobs in ND!

That was an attempt at humor. I have relatives in Powers Lake, Fargo, Jamestown, and elsewhere.

ok- sorry - just get so tired of ND bashing. Most people that bash ND have never been here, but just feel the need to talk trash. I just can't understand it -while there are places I have no desire to live, I don't make deragatory comments about the place....

With all that's happened recently I think Mother nature is saying if we don't shape up she is going to terminate our lease and foreclose on us all ... LOL LOL LOL Hell Japan looked worst then when we Nuked them, don't mess with mother nature she can be a real Bit_h .....

disgusted independant- I'm a repatriated NorDakotan & I got the joke

This is not facebook. Use proper spelling. As for the people stranded, it's a blessing to know that they were all rescued and no one was injured.

Damn--I thought it was a text message from a 4 year old.

sandtrich, Worse...a 16-year old.

Kevin--that 14-17 year old group is scary. I'm with you on this one.

Wasngton Egle: Who made u post-police? Thur r rules of edicut that sup r cede ur ugliness and I am 62 - wanna pull out wid an old man?

Your reply isn't worth reading, e_pluribus_anum.

I thought and think that they way young people communicate with text messages is quite clever. The point is to communicate.

oh good grief megan881, learn the rules of posting on internet blogs/message boards. Using cell phone texting format is NEVER OK!!!! Grow up please. Geez.

In other words megan881, speak english if thats not too difficult for you!!

Is this something new for ND? I don't think so.

I don't even use that type when texting. Can't stand it. My teenager doesn't like it either.

But, back to the topic at hand. There seem to be a lot of negative attitudes towards the people and help they are getting. We don't know that 'most' of the stuck people were tourists or college kids. There are some adults and locals that I am sure stuck around too. And, this complaining about some disasters receiving help that others didn't. Thank God for what you have gotten and thank God for what help they received too. Sometimes fair isn't the same, sometimes, it's what can be done per situation.

My sister works for red cross and she said that most people want to go where ever the disaster is to help. She said that too many volunteers on site can make it worse when they are short on providing shelter for the people hit by the disaster and then they have to find shelter and provisions for those who stay to help. If they have enough hands to help she said the next best thing is to find a way to get necessities and other donations to the site. She said that when she tells people that, there are a small percentage that get upset because they want to 'be seen' helping and decide not to donate any help at all in other forms. It is sad but some people would rather be applauded for their work. Don't do it to brag about it, do it because it is the right thing to do.

Wasngton Egle?!

Yes, the point is to communicate and on a forum such as this, that means correct spelling, grammar, and syntax.

I scroll right past gobbledy-gook.

I hope megan learns to use proper English before she tries to apply for a job. Resumes in that format just don't cut it.

In regard to the people of North Dakota, they seem to understand a very simple concept: "If you don't have what you need, you need what you have." People appear to be going all out to provide assistance and accomodations for many people in small towns, using whatever equipment and space is available.

e_pluribus_anum

- wanna pull out wid an old man? What does that mean?
I might if I knew what you were saying. lol By the way, you are only ten years older than myself.

e_pluribus_anum,

the grammar-spelling police strike again, sup r sede is the word you meant to use.

and that is just the legal ones

I'll take 10 below rather than 110. I can always add another sweater but you can only get so naked in the heat. We just flip the utility bills from expensive summers to expensive winters.

You are so correct! Our ND State Troopers, National Guardsmen and Women, and our ND State Highway Department should be commended for all of the work that they do each and every day for us. Without them out there protecting us and making our roads and our Country 'Safe', where would any of us be?

Everyone gets on here to dish or complain about something, but, why don't you all stop and think about what you have versus what you don't have?!?!

That is how I was raised and educated, on a small farm in North Dakota. If more people where happy with what they had and not wanting what the other person had, everyone would be a lot happier. We are so much more fortunate than so many other nations, but, we Americans have become GREEDY. That is so sad.

Let's try to remember that no one was seriously injured in this storm. A new life tried to come into the world (don't know if the birth has happened yet), but, the mother to be was being taken care of at the ambulance center at Steele, so, she was in good hands, even though they were not able to get her to a Bismarck hospital.

Footnote: my niece was born during a snirt (snow and dirt) blizzard in 1973. It took us 3 days to get to town to see the new arrival!

I am in south Florida and woke up to 65 degrees and turned on my electric blanket. Hated to take a shower. I almost froze yesterday and today. I like to hibernate when it gets down to 70.

Lived in north east for many years and I don't know how you people stand it. Been there, done that...getting stuck in a ditch and having to walk a mile up hill in about 8-10 inches of snow with spike heels on.

Grandson and wife going to Minnesota with the 14 month baby in a week. I hope the baby doesn't freeze. My fear is that they might get stuck somewhere.

Ruth -

Don't worry - I'm sure if your grandson slides off the road due to ice & snow, there'll be a MN State Trooper in a short-sleeved shirt and high-heeled sneakers along shortly to help them out. As far as the baby freezing to death, not to worry. They've figured out how to make fire up there, too.

Good grief, woman.

Ruth...I live in the I90 corridor of Minnesota...blizzard country...we are expecting a heat wave of 40 to 50 degrees and rain in the next 10 days!...the baby won't freeze if dressed properly...this is shorts temps...my kids could wear shorts to school if the temp was supposed to be 60 or above...but they might leave the house in 34 degrees in the a.m....Oh, I'm originally from Oklahoma, been here 27 years...

I am only 45 miles down I94 from Fargo in MN. I will take blizzard conditions over mudslides, wildfires, hurricanes, tsunamis, earthquakes and heatwaves other parts of the US endure. We stayed home and stoked up the fireplace and listened to the wind howl. Weather like this helps keep out the weak - you know who you are.

I live in Minot, ND. Lemme tell ya, I hate it when people are out there driving when it's blizzarding and there's people on the road. I have to be on the road since I have to get to work, what is there excuse?

Hey, disgusted independent.

You don't by chance live in the town that is home to the World's Largest Prairie Chicken, do you?

No Tom, but I dated a girl from there.

My kids climb on the world's largest Otter

I know quite well of the Otter. I grew up in the previously mentioned town. My parents & brother still live there.

But piglets are part of that lifestyle! More power to her and the pigs!

I wondered how long it would take before someone dissed the piglet comment. We in SD and ND who live or have lived the farming/ranching life love it. There is nothing more fun than going home to see your new colt, calf or yes, the new piglets. But I guess you have to experience things like that to appreciate the excitement of it all. Joe, if that thought kept her from getting too frightened in those terrible whiteouts that's wonderful! More times than not, it's the simple things in life that can keep us going in many situations. Enjoy the piglets and I am glad you are safe! And hey, I will talk to myself too when I get caught unexpectedly in one of our SD surprise blizzards. : ) Some scary stuff, but we grew up in unpredictable, ever changing weather so we are prepared like someone stated above. I didn't drive in a blizzard but I did make a hasty 400 mile trip home when my American Saddlebred got bit on the nose by a rattlesnake. Again, am glad you and all who were stranded are safe now. We are wondering and waiting for our always huge March blizzard. It's a given! Drive safe everyone and be prepared. Like Jack said-it ain't pretty!

What is it with these American Saddlebreds? Our American Saddlebred mare just had to check out a cooperhead a couple summers ago. One side of her jaw swelled up real nice for several days. She was given steroids, antibiotics and anti inflammatory shots.

I had to chuckle at the piglet comment, too. I was raised on a dairy farm in Wisconsin. My Mom is now in her 90's, doing quite well. Lately I hear lots of stories of "back then." She grew up in town, but I love hearing her tell about when my Dad was working and she had to help deliver twin calves by herself. As she says, "What else was I supposed to do?" (My Dad's dad couldn't believe she could have been the one who did it :))

I'm with you on that one survivor1 there is'nt anything more beautiful on a farm than a momma sow & her piglets. Try to mess with one of her piglets, she'll rip you a new one.

Repeatthat-nice rides aren't they? My horses head got big as a moose head. Had to tie her down give anti-venom, steroids and many other drugs for almost 2 weeks. She was still a wonderful horse after but a bit jumpy.

Ahhh Just Me- the 'back' then stories' I relish. I hear them farther and fewer between now. But I keep them in my memory treasure box.

stc1993-I remember Grampa yelling at us to get off the pig sty fence because those huge sows would eat us up. That was 45 50 yrs. ago. I thought it was because I was little those things looked so big. Found out I was wrong on that one. lol

And probably expected all sceduled employees to show up on time and stay till the end.

If it makes you feel any better, Kmart stayed open until 10 pm too. And we are on the north end of Bismarck. At least Target is in the 'valley' as I like to call it. (that's where I live). If they can get one more sale, they will do it!

Didn't make a whole lot of sense with 83 shut down and I-94 locked up. Not too much was moving. We had to lock down the automatic doors, the wind kept opening them up...

If it makes you feel any better, I've had to go to work during flash floods (standing water on hill slopes for crying out loud) and had to be on time too and had to stay until close.

emergency situation.. was there looting? ooh, i forgot, people in ND are not a bunch of worthless bums.

Bet that bar ran out of booze quick.

sandtrich -

No, they just had the mobsters from Chicago make a same-day booze delivery, right, Mikey O'?

the whole state of ND was in that town and not a one got mugged. go figure

AMEN

Sure, up there in meth country there is no drug violence. haha

Been there, seen it.

A wonderful state that I have traveled to and stayed for weeks. I would be proud to say I was from ND!! I'd much rather deal with a blizzard than lots of crime ridden places.

in the south all it takes is the thought of a disaster and people are getting off their couches and going to stand near their favorite store hoping chaos breaks out so they can get a free TV.

North Dakota. Disaster strikes and everyone just tries to help out their neighbors and even strangers! sounds like a good reason to make fun of them. next time there is a blizzard i will just pass by any non ND MN license plate in the ditch.. then i wont have to help anyone!

tjm-797207, wrong FEMA was here to help a few years back when Washington had an earthquake, and we are no where near the South. Oh whats that we're way up north with ND.

seawa -

Well, good for you - apparently FEMA feels you're as hapless as the southerners. Tell you what, when the spring thaw floods the the upper midwest, you go out there and tell me if you see anyone from FEMA hanging around helping to fill the sandbags and get back to me, OK? Oh, yeah, ask them for a trailer you can live in free for years, too.

Are you kidding tjm?? It would have taken FEMA a week or more to mobilize and get there. Believe me, ND folks have no need for FEMA weenies. They call out the big guns - the National Guard! Go Guard!!

Actually FEMA was here helping out with the flood.... The thing about ND is that all of our agencies work together so well that there are no "hiccups" We have great state employees and law enforcement in our state willing to go the extra mile for the people of this state.

@tjm

Southern weenies? Wasn't that cowboy movie made about people with your lifestyle up there in them there hills.

Last year FEMA told Fargo/Moorhead to flee the flood. The people told FEMA to go home and let them deal with it.

The berms and sandbags were not breached.

Fargo/Moorhead 1, FEMA 0

We take care of each other

Go Cobbers!

Jorge-311 -

No, you're thinking of that movie about southerners who play banjos and squeal like piglets.

The comment was about FEMA weenies, not Southern weenies. There's a big difference,

If I could set the record straight. FEMA did supply trailers for the Grand Forks Flood. North Dakota could not sell the trailers. They were instructed that they could give the trailers to another disaster, and that is what North Dakota did. If you would like to verify that information, you can go the the ND website of: That should satisfy everyone.

Your comment makes absolutely no sense.

I have lived my entire life in ND. I am 52 years old. I know that there will always be a blizzard in March, there will always be heavy, wet snow fall in April that will not stay long. The Robins always come to North Dakota about 3 weeks before we start to really see any signs of spring.

And, how do I know this you ask? Well, I have lived here my entire life, that's why. So, I just know. If you want to question me about it more, move up here for a year and experience it yourself.

Thanks. I do hate it from June through November here. I wish we could just close the shutters and go away for those months. We have been blessed the past few years with no hurricanes but I have a feeling this year will be a lot different. With all the bad weather going on all over the world, we are due for some terrible weather.

I've lived in the midwest all my life, including a few years in ND. I've only visited the northeast, never lived there. North Dakotans are a hardy lot. And I would guess that people in the northeast are much the same. There's really no need to compare the hardiness of one group over the other. The only difference I can see in one situation over the other -- a blizzard in the northeast vs. a blizzard in ND, particularly western ND where I used to live -- is that there's a lot of desolate country in ND where you could find yourself stranded for miles from a town or even a farm, as opposed to the more populated areas of the northeast. Being stranded in a blizzard, alone in your car, in the middle of nowhere, can be life-threatening.

When I lived in North Dakota I enjoyed the rugged beauty of the badlands and the prairies, the wildlife, and the very nice people of that state.

Burgh, your comments have no merrit. The article is talking about vehicles being stranded at -30 wind chills in the middle of nowhere(possibly life and death if you run out of gas), vs a blizzard in a large coastal city. Hardly similar.

People die all over-get over it.

Get over it? Yes, people die all over -- that's life. But personally I wouldn't want to freeze to death in the middle of a blizzard.

People who haven't lived or traveled in ND may not understand that parts of the state are very desolate. That's the point I wanted to make, Jorge.

And the people of ND will "get over it." I doubt we'll here this referred to as the Great Blizzard of 2011".

Great blizzard? Nah, this was just a flash in the pan that only lasted for a couple of hours. The winds were a pain though.

There was a FAR worse blizzard when i was a child. Shut the state down for 3 days straight. This? This was nothing more than a normal, though very cold, day for most of us.

I couldn't wait to get out of this state when I was out of school. Moved to Calif. someone was shot outside my apt complex and this was in a decent area. I moved back and forth several times from different states. Finally settled in ND which I love now and would never leave again. I've learned to love the snow and the seasons and use common sense when it comes to storms. Just because I didn't like Calif doesn't mean other people can't love it. To each his own. Not everyone is going to like ND and I thank God for that. I figure if you don't like it, don't stay here as there are many other places to live. I lived in several states and learned something in each one. It doesn't mean there isn't crime here. There is and we deal with it on a day to day basis. That's life. But....we are the only state in the black, lowest unemployment rate in the nation, four seasons, friendly people and wide open spaces. That means you can see a storm coming from miles away and we head for home and stay there. Love you North Dakots

I keep hearing that San Diego has the best weather all year round. Lucky you!!

KateDawg -

I don't think there's ever been a reported tsunami in N. Dakota for the last billion years or so. Thank dog you guys got it. Unfortunately, my boat insurance will probably go up now, too, even though I'm not in a tsunami zone.

I"m sorry. Living in California has obviously caused you to experience the Stockholm Syndrome.

ND has average SAT scores of 1760. CA has an average sat score of 1511.

LOL, i'm glad I don't live in California.

Good for you KateDawg. I'm glad you live in California too! We don't need anymore seemingly uncaring people here. She was scared for crying out loud. Have you ever been frightened by the traffic in Cal. or maybe a fire knocking at your back door? Try driving in a blizzard when a trucker from California passes you going 70mph when 20mph or less is called for in whiteout conditions. Try to see where you're at, either on the road or not in that white flash when they go by you. Then you see the semi in the ditch ahead because they aren't used to driving in weather like that and thank your lucky stars you aren't underneath that truck. Nothing at all against truckers as most of them stick to their good, common sense driving skills as weather conditions permit. But most of those who live in snow country have had this happen to them more than once and that's frightening as heck when you can't see a thing for 400 feet ahead of you. Am glad California works for you!

Great comment and I agree. It always seems to be the southerners that cause the problems. These conditions are a yearly and sometimes weekly thing up here and if you aren't in some kind of emergency you shouldn't be on the road. I am proud to live up here and will deal with the cold and sometimes bad conditions JUST to keep away from all those crazy idiotic Californians. People don't understand, half the reason we live up here is to stay away from all the riff raff from down south. Cant wait for the summers though, we know how to live it up, up here when the weather is good. Can't wait for all the festivals and street parties.

Thanks Deb - at least someone has a little compassion. THe storm was predicted, but alot of people were just trying to make it home from work. If semi trucks would get off the road early in the storm it would help - as they are the usual culprits - jack knife across interstate and then everyone is stuck. We are proud of our Highway Patrol,Nat'l Guard, and Emergency crews - they risk their lives to help out - and apparently the small town of Medina really stepped in and took care of all those stranded people!

As a truckers' wife, I can tell you, the truckers who jackknife their trucks, are typically from the South, or the Coasts. Northern drivers know, we use our hazaards and drop our speeds. We went to the market, five miles away, and drove home at 20mph in this weather. My husband works the oil patch, and all the trucks were called in early enough not to be the problem. You have to be willing to ditch your car (meaning, drive into a ditch) if someone comes sliding at you. If you are not prepared, do not have a full tank of gas, or blankets and food in the car, is when something bad can occur if help does not come soon enough. Those earthquake kits they sell, well, they work in the dead of winter, when you end up stuck, too.

And just so you know, In Western ND, by a town named Arnegaard, there was a fatality accident. Our roads were closed by two in the afternoon, due to multiple car/truck accidents going west and south, ambulances were dispatched. As of four in the afternoon, they still did not know how many vehicles, and what types of vehicles there were. Visibility was under ten feet. Severe weather here is no joke, and we do have to watch for flooding with record snow falls, even in the hill regions.

Good one stbjr! At this point in my life, assuming the kids (teens) were not with me, I'd take the bar too. You could always walk to the church (not far away) at closing time. Gotta love those North Dakotans. They are a special breed for sure.

stbjr- that was awesome! If I am ever stuck in a blizzard and told to pick one or the other, I'm going to be thanking God for beer!

My sister was stuck for 10 hours. And she was one that didn't crash.

What? You think that 800 people can be magically rescued in a matter of an hour?

You are dense.

It's also a good reason to keep a weather eye out, heed warnings, and stay off the roads. All those rescues cost money.

Ahh, it's not that cold here. July and August are usually quite nice for a couple days. lol

Freezin's the reason!! :)

Post #24 !!!

I blame it on Al Gore & his global warming.

Yup. We usually see our last storm the first week in April. Then we will see a short spring and a HOT summer. Our weather here changes very quickly. We literally say you don't like the weather? Wait 5 minutes! hahaha

In Wisconsin, we only have 2 seasons -- winter and road construction.

In Montana, we call the two seasons winter and July 4th. Although, here in West Yellowstone, I have seen it snow on July 4th 3 out of 16 yrs that I have lived here. We have a good 4-6 feet on the ground in the low areas around town right now and a lot more in the mtns around us.:)