Fargo Vs. New Orleans

Interesting thought from Neal Boortz:

Let’s see how well the residents of Fargo handle this disaster vs. the residents of New Orleans. The parasite quotient in New Orleans gives a huge lead to the denizens of the frozen north. I’m guessing that three and one-half years from now you will not see many Fargo residents living in motels as guests of the taxpayers.

Fargo isn’t nearly as densely populated as New Orleans, and Grand Forks was perhaps even less so during their flood disaster of 1997 which was much worse (at least to date) than what Fargo is facing now. But even so, as someone who observed and commented on the Katrina disaster extensively and as a resident of North Dakota I can say that the difference in approaches to natural disaster is easily identified.
When citizens of Fargo, Grand Forks and Bismarck learned that flood conditions were imminent there was a rapid response from private citizens to show up down at volunteer centers to fill sandbags, build dikes and generally help one another out in preparing. This was all organized by the city and county government, with help from the National Guard.
There has been no whining about FEMA. Nobody sitting at home waiting for someone else to rescue them. Just a community of people taking responsibility for themselves and, if they can, their neighbors.
And I doubt that you’ll see anyone from Fargo or Bismarck staying at a hotel or in government housing years from now. Or even a month from now. Or perhaps even next week.