Impending thunderstorms prompted the Spirit Lake Nation to announce locations for taking shelter last week. 

Many people planned to shelter in the sturdy recreation centers, and some of our church family planned to use the basement of the parsonage house as their place of safety. Everyone in our community formed a plan before we heard the first rumbles of thunder.

Thankfully, our area did not have the severity of damage that nearby communities experienced, and our safe rooms can be saved ...