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Stewardship Tip – An Act of Kindness
By Arshia | June 28, 2011
We are stewards; we lend a hand.
Up and down the Missouri River, flooding has been a major problem this spring. Even after a few days of summer, the floodwaters don’t appear to be receding.
In Minot, ND, the Souris River destroyed a 130-year-old record by nearly 4 feet and now runs over temporary flood protection walls.
In Hamburg, IA, problems with the levy have prompted Fremont County managers to evacuate 661 individuals who live west of Interstate 29.
In Omaha, NE, storm sewers bulging with floodwater literally spat excess water out of downtown sewer drains.
The situation is a reminder that there are things in the river, such as fish, insects, and debris, that do not belong in the city. Conversely, there are things in the city, such as insecticides, fertilizers, gasoline, and oil that don’t belong in the river.
If you are in an area that is threatened by flooding, get all of your household hazardous waste (HHW) to high ground. That includes paints, cleaners, stains, varnishes, car batteries, motor oil, fertilizers, pesticides, gasoline, and kerosene. If it is marked with the words CAUTION, WARNING, DANGER, or POISON, it is HHW.
HHW is toxic; it can kill fish. If floodwater enters your home, it will carry away any HHW in its wake. Move it to high ground, keep the HHW high and dry; don’t contaminate the floodwater.
Make sure to move any vehicles to high ground as well. Floodwaters can do serious damage to your vehicle; more importantly, heavy currents can draw gasoline and oil from an abandoned truck or car. As with HHW, fuel and lubricants from a vehicle can be lethal to fish.
If the flood has not affected your community, there are things that you can do. An act of altruism, such as volunteering to fill sandbags in a threatened community, will not only assist those in need, it will also keep floodwaters out of the city. Sandbags, in many towns, are the absolute last line of defense. Keep an eye out for announcements in the newspaper, on television, and on the radio. You will be helping your friends and neighbors; you will be helping your local fish as well.
We are stewards; we lend a hand.
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