The June Monsoon of 2012
By: Susan D. Smith

Torrential rains marked the first day of summer for the small city of Brookston, located approximately 30 miles west of Duluth, Minnesota. Families evacuated throughout the day mostly by boat after the water became too high for 4x4 pick-up trucks. The only time the city bustles with activity is on the 4th of July but the June Monsoon brought spectators, good Samaritans, and work crews. Two weeks later the city was bustling with activity again as everyone took a much needed break to celebrate the 4th of July. The rest of the long humid summer and autumn was a lot of hard work with the goal of being back into their homes before winter.