Life in rural America is beautiful, but it comes with challenges many people never see. Out here, when trouble strikes, we don’t wait for someone else to handle it — we step in. We have to. Sometimes emergency services are 15, 20, even 30 minutes away. In those moments, neighbors are often the first line of defense.

This morning reminded me why that matters.

I was just waking up when a neighbor called, they didn’t have the phone number for the elderly couple who live right across the street from me, and they needed help. The elderly couples property had caught fire after a fierce thunder and lightning storm rolled through in the early hours. I jumped out of bed and rushed over.

When I arrived, I helped them call 911 while the husband, well into his 90’s, stood outside with a hose, fighting to save the home they’ve spent a lifetime building. He and his wife refused to leave, determined to protect the place they love. Their courage and resolve were extraordinary.

Once the fire department arrived and I was sure my neighbors were safe, I stepped back so the firefighters could take over. As I left, I stopped to thank the State Patrol for their quick response.

Driving home, I couldn’t shake a simple truth: in our communities, we are often it.

That’s why it’s so important to know your neighbors. Exchange phone numbers, not just with one or two, but with ten of the people who live nearby. Build those connections. Because at any given moment, they may be the only help you have … and you may be theirs.

Rural life teaches us resilience, but it also teaches us responsibility. We’re stronger and safer when we look out for each other. That’s what makes communities like ours not just places to live, but places to belong.