Tribune editorial staff

This week's holiday is particularly fitting for many residents of Lawrence County. Yes, this week, perhaps more than most, we obviously have something for which to be thankful.

Flooding that ravaged parts of West Virginia have largely missed our little corner of southeast Ohio, but it was awfully close to home.

Last week, a slow-moving storm system dumped inches and inches of rain on our area, but the rain was particularly heavy east of here.

Other than some flooding in low-lying areas, we were spared from the initial flash-flood damages.

Then, flood-swelled tributaries began engorging the Ohio River. The waters began to rise, and they continuing rising to dangerous levels.

The river rose to the point that residents and leaders alike began getting concerned. Would it stop in time before heavy damage was done?

People living along the banks of the Ohio began looking at the river not as a peaceful, serene scene of beauty, but rather a potentially destructive force that quickly threatened to change their lives.

For the first time in years, City of Ironton crews began closing off the floodgates that surround and protect low-lying areas of the city from the mighty Ohio River.

Fortunately, it appears that the water has subsided short of doing serious damage. But as anyone in our area knows, the threat is only a few days' rain away.

The powerful Ohio River, the very reason people populated this area in the first place, is a force to be respected.

It appears for the most part that Lawrence County dodged a devastating bullet. And for that we should be particularly thankful this holiday season. Please remember to donate your time, goods or money to those less fortunate in our area. Many, many lives were turned upside down due to the flooding.

Remember as you see images of the flooding that there but by the grace of God is our community.