To the editor:

As a sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½˜small town kidsa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½™ many years ago, I feel proud of the thousands of individual efforts I saw come to surface as this fight against naturesa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½™s flood fighters have joined together on all levels against this threat.

We may have dodged this first bullet but the precautionary efforts is both a learning process and a reality check. Many unfortunate stories will emerge with those who are experiencing/experienced survival in this reality check. Fire, flood, droughtsa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½”this variety list is very real when it happens to you.

I simply would like to thank the many who volunteered in the dozens of different venuessa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½”the untold heroes. They reminded me that when they can, they will help those who struggled in fear in the dark. My heart goes out to the many who may have lost the battle and please remember sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½˜we can do what I cannotsa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½™ and you have the power in hundreds of wayssa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½¦even with a concerned earsa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½¦to make a difference. Thank you all who have.

Joel Rickard, Kelowna