FARGO, N.D. (AP) One family offered their home to anyone left homeless by flooding, even sharing their security entry code. When another couple lost their house, total strangers showed up at their hotel with chicken dinners, brownies and quilts. In the neighborly spirit synonymous with North Dakota, some people have given out their phone numbers on radio talk shows, offering shelter to any listeners in need. The generosity is so common that even as thousands of people are driven out of their homes by the overflowing Red River, most storm shelters are virtually empty.
"There is a different flavor up here the type of hardworking ethic and the people helping each other up here that you don't see in a lot of cities," said Tom Hlady, who signed up through his church to take as many as nine people into his five-bedroom home.
On Monday, weary residents were grateful to see the Red River retreating after its steady, threatening climb last week. But they faced a new threat: an approaching snowstorm expected to kick up wind-whipped waves that could threaten the sandbag levees. The storm was expected to arrive Monday afternoon and persist through Tuesday evening.
Locals don't consider the outpouring of kindness at all unusual.
The Associated Press: In Fargo, goodwill runs as deep as the Red River
"There is a different flavor up here the type of hardworking ethic and the people helping each other up here that you don't see in a lot of cities," said Tom Hlady, who signed up through his church to take as many as nine people into his five-bedroom home.
On Monday, weary residents were grateful to see the Red River retreating after its steady, threatening climb last week. But they faced a new threat: an approaching snowstorm expected to kick up wind-whipped waves that could threaten the sandbag levees. The storm was expected to arrive Monday afternoon and persist through Tuesday evening.
Locals don't consider the outpouring of kindness at all unusual.
The Associated Press: In Fargo, goodwill runs as deep as the Red River
