This is written to our third graders. For it is to the next generation that we leave this issue.

Our country keeps a big supply of oil saved up in case of emergencies. It is stored in giant caverns underground. That oil is almost gone. Experts say if we take out much more, the operating systems for the caverns could break.

So soon we may have to stop taking oil out, to keep the caverns safe.

But there’s a problem. That saved oil has been helping keep gasoline prices from going up too fast. If we stop using it, and something bad happens far away, like a war stopping oil tankers, we won’t have extra oil to help us. Gasoline prices could go up faster. And it would take a long time to fix because filling the caverns back up takes years, not months.

So we have a hard choice. We can keep using the oil and maybe break the caverns forever. Or we can stop now and lose our safety net right when we might need it most.

Families should know this saved oil has been helping keep gasoline cheaper. And soon, that help may run out.

Paul G. Southland

Wrangell