Yesterday morning I published a picture and a reminder that some days aren’t meant for big victories. Some days it’s all we can do to just survive.

That was at about 4 a.m. By 8:30 a.m., my community was in crisis. An orange cloud filled the sky at the Austin Powder Red Diamond plant near the village of Zaleski. They manufacture dynamite and nitric oxide was unexpectedly released from a 5,000 gallon tank at the plant.

Residents in a three mile radius of the plant were evacuated. Volunteer firefighters, EMS, law enforcement, and the EPA rushed to help. The Red Cross came. Locals donated snacks and water to an emergency shelter. People prayed and many worried for their livestock, drinking water, and neighbors. 

There was commotion and confusion, fear and pride as we saw unfold something we all dread and that our first responders had trained to handle. 

Small communities like mine hear a lot of negativity. People underestimate us because we are rural and lack the wealth, infrastructure and resources of a city. What we lack in this department we make up for with community spirit, compassion and kindness.

We tend to flourish in the face of crisis and know how to overcome troubles. I’m proud of my community and those first responders who bravely worked to keep everyone safe. 

We survived.