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Stories of the storm

Stories of the storm

don brown
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 4956

don brown
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 4956

Stories of the storm
3/8/2017 at 7:14 AM

Usually the news is full of articles of how terrible our world is and how people no longer care, but at times there's the other side of the world.
This storm started mid afternoon on Monday and is just subsiding this morning. My contribution to helping out was very small, and after talking to my son found out that he, and another neighbour spent some time pulling vehicles out of the ditch, and some people were given a place to stay.
Facebook was alive with stories about people helping out, and I imagine there are many people who would like to know some of the good deeds that happened, or maybe just stories of the storm, I know that communities were involved as well. If you have something to share it would be nice to hear.
NA
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 838

NA
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 838

People stuck
3/8/2017 at 7:28 AM

I saw some amazing displays of brandonnites after stopping to help three different people get un-stuck. People with trucks would stop to help pull, and one girl was so wedged it took 6 of us to get her out.

It's so amazing. No matter how cold and windy it was, as soon as people would see someone stuck, swarms of people would stop to help.

I hope great karma comes to all of those who worked Hard to help everyone in need! Some amazing displays of kindness.
Amaxinlin
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 683

Amaxinlin
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 683

.
3/8/2017 at 7:46 AM

Haven't been allowed out, lol. My significant other was having trouble getting around yesterday in 4x4, so he advised me to stay home and not take my car out! A family member of mine had no choice and had to get to work, and was pushed out by many people! I also read stories on my feed about good Samaritans pushing them out!! Great job! And hope this is the worst of it, will take a little while for these streets to get cleaned up though so stay safe everyone!!
RodiusZhaotheBrave!
Joined: This month
Posts: 11

RodiusZhaotheBrave!
Joined: This month
Posts: 11

.
3/8/2017 at 7:57 AM

Geared up early last morning and hiked in to town, expecting to find a cold ghost town. Was delighted to see people out about their day; helped get a few cars unstuck and assisted shoveling a walk. It is great to see just how many people would stop on an instant to help their fellow people!
Stay safe out there thought. Those roads are "fun" to say the least. 100%, grade A, skating rink ice, covered in blowing snow.
don brown
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 4956

don brown
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 4956

Facebook comments
3/8/2017 at 8:06 AM

One of the most interest and funny comment that my wife read to me was "the town of Alexander makes great Balgona sandwiches", this comment was likely posted by someone who spent the night stranded on the hiway.
zep
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 378

zep
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 378

Woman and horse bring sandwiches
3/8/2017 at 8:38 AM

This is my favorite.. http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2017/03/07/manitoba-storm-horseback-coffee-eileen-grace-eagle-bears_n_15228212.html?ncid=fcbklnkcahpmg00000001
happycamper
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 635

happycamper
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 635

friendly caring brandon manitoba
3/8/2017 at 9:02 AM

my adult son decided to go for a walk yesterday. he was dressed for the weather and had earbuds on and was listening to his tunes..twice he heard a car honking beside him, and after my son took out his earbuds, they asked him if he needed a ride. only in friendly caring Manitoba..what a great place to live..
don brown
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 4956

don brown
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 4956

zep
3/8/2017 at 9:48 AM

Thanks for sharing the link.
We followed this on ebrandon yesterday, and then viewed it this morning on Facebook.
Far to often we look for the worst in people, and sometimes that is focused on the younger generation, this young lady proves that age is not something that can define care for our fellow humans.
Hats off to this young lady, and thanks.

When the storm was raging Monday afternoon we lost our power, and by what I can find out it was a fairly large area. I was out in the storm in the time period that they were doing repairs, and have to say thanks to them, I was wondering if this was the crew that took shelter at a business east of Souris.
don brown
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 4956

don brown
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 4956

My logic
3/8/2017 at 10:35 AM

My logic for such actions.
I went out to assist someone Monday afternoon, my son and a friend went out in the evening to assist people, and there are many other stories of people going out with tractors trucks and snowmobiles to try and help people out. As individuals we sometimes leave logic behind, and live with the idea of risk vs reward. We once had a vehicle stop on the hiway by the farm in the evening, we did not go out to check, in the morning an elderly man walk up to the yard, and asked for some help because his wife was diabetic, and needed help. Things like this can leave an impression on a person. I guess we all assume that in today''s world there''s no reason not to be connected to the world and help, but a lesson I learned on Monday was my cellphone goes dead real quick when using it outside in the cold.
Most people know their limits, and just do a reward vs risk assessment of situations, and from that point make a decision. I guess I view it differently than some, I view it as logic with a greater purpose.

Edited by don brown, 2017-03-08 10:39:08

traveller
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 9145

Joined: Jun 2007

Posts: 9145

3/8/2017 at 12:26 PM

You_don't_know_me said "First of all it was minus 30. Second why would you venture out on horseback no less! She put her self at risk and others should she had gotten lost in the storm. Visibility is terrible and when white out conditions occur its way to easy get lost. Finally that guy in the truck was not going to starve in 24 hours and should have persuaded the young lady to NOT risk herself again just for food for him. Seriously "running out" (NOT OUT OF) of sandwiches is no reason to venture out for another hour long horse back ride in a blizzard.

I cant be the only person who sees the lack of logic and common sense here. If this man were in so much trouble then perhaps rescue teams would have been more appropriate. There is being nice and there is lack of common sense. JMO "

the valley was protected by the white out and this lady lives very close, horses are quite able to go through the snow so i believe the risk she took to be nice was calculated well enough

no the guy wouldnt starve but you never know his condition (guy in alaxander ran out of heart meds)or how log hed have to wait for help so im glad there is still thoughtful people that will lend a hand

D+D
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 148

D+D
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 148

Re: horse and rider
3/8/2017 at 12:26 PM

I think what she did was kind.

Visibility in the valley wasn't bad during the storm, at no point yesterday was the truck obscured on the camera. Her route is well protected by trees, and her horse would have easily found their way home if she became disoriented (he knows where the oats are!). She took a well trained, reliable horse.

If things got so bad she couldn't continue, she has the sense to take shelter, and there are places along the route to do so. And if she, as a rider, thought it was too bad to be out, she wouldn't have decided to go, or to make the second trip. She knows when conditions are too bad for her horses. If I didn't have a toddler at home, I would have considered doing the same.

No need to be negative - she didn't hurt anybody or put anyone else at risk, she was concerned about somebody and was kind. More people should be kind and compassionate.
Grace1956
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 661

Grace1956
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 661

:)
3/8/2017 at 12:48 PM

For you that think this lady was crazy I'm not going to comment on that . I grew up on a working farm. New lost any animals because of a storm or blizzard. Always came home they knew the roads/paths better than any human gps goes. Animals are very smart.
Adam

Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 15663

Adam
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 15663

Stories of the storm
3/8/2017 at 2:44 PM

Not completely sure what goes through the mind of someone whose first thought after a reading a story like that is to go into critic mode but I don't think I'd be sticking my neck out very far to suggest its in the minority. It feels good to be kind even if that sometimes means taking on a little bit of suffering yourself to help ease someone else's. I'd put a level of trust into the thought that this compassionate young lady and her presumably equally compassionate mother knew what she was getting into and took the necessary precautions before heading out... its hard to argue with the results.

Thanks for starting this thread Don B.
My story of an encounter with kindness today doesn't so much relate to a push, a ride, a shovel or any kind of emergency but IMO fits right in with this thread nonetheless. For those that don't know, we work from home so we've kept ourselves indoors for the better part of the last couple days. Didn't quite want to bother with streets and driving just yet but needed to get out and so Jess, myself and kiddo bundled up at lunch time with our share of layers, pulled out the toboggan and decided to go out for a bite to eat Canadian-style with sled in tow by trekking to a nearby restaurant. I'm sure we were a little out of the ordinary sight with our sled propped up against our booth and a lot of our layers stacked high beside us while we had a nice meal. As we were getting dressed up to go an elderly stranger that we exchanged a few brief words of small talk with earlier when we were getting seated yanked the bill off our table and paid for it before I even had a chance to completely know what was going on.
Have been on the receiving and giving end of a Tims drive-thru chain and its a fun thing and a good feeling on both sides, but its another altogether when a stranger no questions asked picks up a full restaurant bill. I thanked you about ten times but if you happen to be reading, consider this #11
In the mean time I have a hole in my pocket about the size of a $50 bill and will be on the lookout for a chance to pay it forward the next time we're out eating!

Edited by Adam, 2017-03-08 14:56:27
PDS
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 10

PDS
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 10

stories of the storm
3/8/2017 at 4:39 PM

I would like to sincerely thank the young lady who stopped to help me just after 6:30 this a.m. while being stuck on 13th and Pacific . You tried very hard to push me out by yourself and I really appreciated it. Then a cab driver...I think ..stopped to help you push me out. I'm terribly sorry I didn't properly thank either of you, as I was afraid to even slow down once I was out. I hope you read this and know how grateful I am. Thank-you so much to you both for your help.
don brown
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 4956

don brown
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 4956

This topic
3/8/2017 at 8:02 PM

When I posted this in the morning I said I would not talk, or comment exssesively, which I normally do.
Adams comment made me want to maybe put in a final comment, in a way I had hoped to maybe hear of more acts by people because they were certainly out there. I know that the town of Souris opened it community hall for people, and then look at the town of Alexander, one post mentioned that around 80 people spent the night in that community. Then there were the people who opened their homes to stranded people, as well as the numerous stories of people assisting people on the roads, one story of people coming to the aid of an American couple. One comment I read was from an employee of Corner Equipment at Carrol, who opened their doors for the hydro crew.
Adam mentioned about pay it forward, and I believe that is what motivates many people to do such things.
I heard a bit about the people who were stranded on #1, and comments from them would have been interesting, for some reason I believe that out at that scene, there would have been a person or even a group of people who made a point of checking on others.
Nice to hear the comments from out of Brandon, guess it doesn't matter where you are, there are people who care.
hutchster
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 859

hutchster
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 859

...
3/8/2017 at 9:03 PM

If I'm being honest and maybe a bit melodramatic, the situation that unfolded these last few days is one of my worst nightmares, being stranded and having to rely on the kindness of strangers to potentially save my life scares me to my core.

I don't like the feeling that my survival is out of my hands or that I need help, I would probably be the dummy that freezes to death because I was too stubborn to ask for help.

I had a co worker get stranded in oak lake for the last 3 days, the first night he planned on sleeping in his car, hoping he wouldn't run out of gas but was offered a place to stay in a strangers home, I believe it was a volunteer fire fighter.

The second night was spent in the home of the coop grocery store manager.

So I would like to extend my thanks to them and any others who helped out people in need out of the kindness of their hearts

Now to find the source of this onion that's making my eyes water lol