That is ironic, as Grand Forks has become more or less forecast independent, while Fargo remains dependent on forecasts do to an inability to secure mitigation monies.

She highlighted the narrow escape of the Fargo community as indicative of just how useful these forecasts are. This is a nice pat on the back for the forecasting community, but as Roger’s paper and the NY Times piece point out, it is not so simple. Of course, these these lessons about political and institutional complexity, and the realities of human behavior, tend to get lost, even at an event like this where folks are so diligently focused on finding adaptation solutions.