Greensburg tornado

Tornadoes are common in the state of Kansas, with an average of 87 tornadoes touching down per year. Kansas sees the second-highest number of tornadoes within its state-boundaries in an average year, behind only Texas, which sees 124 on average. Kansas is located in the center of Tornado Alley, the region of the United States in which the most tornadoes occur. Cold and dry air from the Rocky Mountains and the West Coast of the United States drops into Tornado Alley, while moist subtropical air is pulled inward from the Gulf of Mexico. The cold air pushes under the warm and moist air, pushing it upward; this updraft leads to the development of thunderstorms capable of producing strong tornadoes. Kansas has experienced seven F5 or EF5 tornadoes since 1950, the highest number recorded in any U.S. state. Research conducted by meteorologist and tornado historian Thomas P. Grazulis concluded that F5-rated tornadoes have struck Kansas since 1895. == Meteorological synopsis ==

The most intense supercell thunderstorms developed in the early evening hours of May 4 across northwestern Oklahoma and southwestern Kansas. One of these eventually produced at least 20to 22tornadoes, including the Greensburg tornado and its respective satellite tornadoes. The day's first supercells developed near the Kansas-Oklahoma border, to the south and southeast of Dodge City, at around 7:30 p.m. Over the next hour, cells combined into one large supercell near U.S. Route 183. with the first well-defined funnel clouds being observed around 8:45 p.m; small tornadoes touched down from that time to around 15 minutes later. At 9:25 p.m., a well-defined hook echo, a radar signature often indicative of a mesocyclone within a thunderstorm, was located in southern Kiowa County. This hook echo was accompanied by the Greensburg tornado, which touched down at 9:03p.m. south of Greensburg. == Tornado summary ==

Formation and track towards Greensburg The rotating supercell that later produced the Greensburg tornado was accompanied by several short-tracked tornadoes. The Greensburg tornado itself, located on the westernmost side of the mesocyclone, began to rapidly strengthen shortly after touching down at 9:03p.m. audio of the tornado warning that was issued for Kiowa County at 9:19p.m.|left|250x250px As the main tornado continued through rural areas, oil tanks were destroyed, with oil strewn across pastures and a road. The very large tornado continued to grow in size as it approached the city of Greensburg from the south. The tornado then reached its maximum width of as determined by damage. At 9:41p.m., the National Weather Service office in Dodge City issued a tornado emergency for Greensburg, stating that "a violent tornado was on a direct path for portions of Greensburg this is an emergency situation for Greensburg". Impact in Greensburg The tornado weakened slightly as it entered residential areas in southern Greensburg, but remained violent, at EF4intensity, as it directly struck Delmer Day Elementary School, completely leveling a section of the building. Continuing north, the tornado completely devastated downtown Greensburg; the Greensburg City Hall and many other businesses suffered visible damage, including Fleener's Furniture Store, Dillon's Grocery Store, and Sutton's True Value Hardware Store. A motel on the west side of the city was severely damaged and vehicles were rolled and lofted by the tornado. A Daylight Donuts coffee shop and the local bank were heavily damaged or destroyed by the tornado. Three schools were destroyed and electrical service to the city was cut by the tornado. A large grain elevator in the northern part of Greensburg remained standing after being hit by the tornado, one of a few structures to survive the event. The Greensburg meteorite was found and recovered under a wall in the building which had previously housed it. The Greensburg Mennonite Church was also destroyed. Trees throughout the city were completely stripped of all bark, the greatest number of debarked trees being located near houses that sustained EF4damage. EF5 damage was determined to have been inflicted to seven residences throughout Greensburg proper. A damage survey conducted by Timothy P. Marshall, Joshua Wurman, and several other experts found that a total of 53houses had slid off brick foundations that anchored the homes to the ground. 194homes sustained EF0damage; many of these homes were located along the outer path of the tornado on the east and west side of the city. The survey also concluded that damage on the tornado's east side was more severe than damage of that on its west side. As the tornado exited the city limits of Greensburg, it began to weaken. It turned to the northwest, tracking in a counterclockwise circular direction; the tornado dissipated in a farm field to the northwest of Greensburg at 10:05 p.m.; it had been on the ground for one hour and two minutes. Overall, 95% of Greensburg was damaged or destroyed. A total of 961homes and businesses were destroyed, 216received major damage and 307received minor damage. The National Weather Service rated the worst of the damage caused by the tornado at EF5 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale (EF scale), The tornado was the first to be rated EF5on the EF scale after the retirement of the original Fujita scale in the United States on February 1, 2007; The tornado was described by meteorologist Howard Bluestein as "likely the most intense since the tornado that struck Oklahoma City and Moore, Oklahoma, on 3 May 1999". The Greensburg tornado was followed by multiple other tornadoes that night across southern Kansas, although none struck heavily-populated areas and inflicted damage to the degree that was observed in Greensburg. Satellite tornadoes During the early stages of the tornado's life, videos and later research showed that at least five confirmed satellite tornadoes existed around the main tornado. A University of Massachusetts team, observing the storm using a mobile radar system, detected five satellites that were determined to have been related to the Greensburg tornado. One of these satellite tornadoes likely crossed over the same damage path produced by the main tornado. The largest satellite tornado was located around southeast of the main tornado. Coverage and National Weather Service warnings The National Weather Service issued advance warnings of the tornado that were sent out to the public up to 39minutes before the tornado hit Greensburg. The warnings were upgraded to a rare tornado emergency 10to 12minutes before the tornado hit; storm chaser Lance Ferguson had relayed to the National Weather Service that a large tornado was on the ground near Greensburg. NBC News noted that some Greensburg residents said the warnings saved their lives and that more people may have died had the warnings not been issued so far in advance, as the warnings gave time for residents to move to their shelters before the tornado destroyed the city. Jay Prater covered the storm for the KAKEland Television Network, while Dave Freeman broadcast coverage on KSN. his second time winning the award after receiving it in 1992. == Aftermath ==

95% of structures in Greensburg were damaged or destroyed. Around of tornado-related debris was removed from Greensburg from 2007 to April 2008. Initial recovery attempts in the days following the tornado were constrained by the disruption of electricity and by other hazardous conditions that made it difficult to clean up the city. President George W. Bush declared a disaster area in the state of Kansas. Immediately after the tornado, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) dispatched on-scene coordinators to Greensburg; the agency was tasked with addressing fuel releases and mitigating damaged transformers. The EPA left Greensburg in June 2007, a little over a month after the tornado, although it remained on standby. The town's economy was still affected by the tornado ten years after the event; it has seen trouble attracting residents because of homes being sold in Greensburg at higher prices than those in neighboring towns. According to a 2015 study, "24 businesses were critically damaged by the tornado, and 110 were damaged beyond repair". 5.4.7 Arts Center The 5.4.7 Arts Center, named after the date the tornado occurred, opened on June 16, 2008, and is the first sustainable LEED-platinum building in the state of Kansas and the first in history to be built by students. The building's wood siding was sourced from the World War II-era Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant in eastern Kansas. During a 2010-2011 study by the United States Department of Energy, it was found that the building saved 70% in energy costs compared to typical buildings of its type. A lack of steel vertical columns along the school's window sills, accompanied by weak hinge lines, was concluded to have led to the collapse. Like the high school, damage inflicted to the school was eventually given an EF4rating. Greensburg High School, located around one block east of the tornado's inflow, was heavily damaged. As the tornado moved through the area, northward-facing winds battered the building, causing the top floor of the main building and the southern wall of an adjacent building to collapse inward. The east-facing walls of the high school also collapsed inward; the west-facing walls collapsed in an outward direction due to the movement of wind. In a damage survey conducted after the tornado, it was found that the building's large window sills anchored by hinge lines were unable to hold up against high winds, resulting in the collapse. Damage to the high school received an EF4 rating. Both Greensburg High School and Delmer Day Elementary School were so heavily damaged that they were no longer usable as public education facilities for Greensburg; school was canceled for the remainder of the calendar school year as a result. Schooling was temporarily done in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)-provided trailers. Greensburg Schools superintendent Darin Headrick stated that "Our biggest concern was that if we didn't have a school in the city as quickly as possible, people would not have a reason to move back"; a permanent countywide school began to serve Greensburg in 2010. The rebuilt building was constructed partially using salvaged bricks from a destroyed diesel-generator plant. The building is the only in Greensburg with an open-loop geothermal system, Several other buildings in Greensburg use the closed-loop variant, which transfers heat by circulating fluid through a closed network of pipes. The open-loop system was chosen for the City Hall because it was the most affordable option. although it still suffered damage. Although the option to tear down the structure did exist, Kiowa County chose to renovate the building to an LEED Gold standard. The renovated, three-story building features high-performance windows, spray foam insulation and a ground-source heat pump. The hospital was unable to be used as a care facility as a result of the tornado. A secondary care location was set up at the Heart to Heart International trailers in Olathe, Kansas. Recovery efforts began immediately following the tornado; workers at the Kiowa County Memorial Hospital decided to begin rebuilding the hospital within 24hours of its destruction. S.D. Robinett Building The historic S. D. Robinett Building survived the tornado. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 1, 2010, and the renovated building features an open floor plan, energy-efficient appliances, and spray-foam insulation. Tornado Damage Investigation, Greensburg, Kansas The Federal Emergency Management Agency made two visits to Greensburg in May 2007, following the tornado. During these visits, structural engineers with the URS Corporation conducted a damage survey separate from the one made by engineers with the Haag Company. The survey studied 46residential structures in Greensburg that were damaged in varying degrees. The damage survey found that zero public tornado shelters were located in Greensburg; people took cover from the tornado in other shelters and cellars. The survey recommended that two new Degree of Damage (DOD) indicators be added to the Enhanced Fujita Scale, in addition to the 23existing indicators: to evaluate the scale of damage to load-bearing masonry buildings and timber-frame buildings, although neither have been implemented as of September 2025. The observation aimed to document the early stages of the Greensburg tornado's life. The study was noted as being one of a few ever conducted to observe both an EF5-rated tornado and two separate storm modes, which refers to the meso-beta-scale organizational characteristics into a severe storm. Rebuilding efforts and reactions Following the tornado, many families signed up to reside in the 200temporary housing units aligned in rows, or "FEMA shelters" provided by FEMA, where residents lived for up to eighteen months. 500of the 750residents who remained in the city lived in these housing sites, dubbed "Femaville" by some residents of Greensburg. The temporary housing units came equipped with items such as blankets and dishes to help living conditions while recovery efforts were underway. Schools and other public buildings in the neighboring towns of Mullinville, Bucklin, and Haviland were also used as temporary shelters for victims of the tornado; the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement set up three shelters in Mullinville, one in Haviland and one in Bucklin. As well as providing shelter, FEMA declared that it would pay for 100% of cleanup costs after the event, including at least $7.6million for housing assistance and almost $10million for repairing infrastructure in the city. FEMA also hired 21Greensburg residents to work in recovery positions; 7,604volunteers registered by AmeriCorps worked to help with recovery efforts. Volunteers logged a total of 57,786volunteer hours. President George W. Bush visited Greensburg twice following the tornado to survey damage. In a speech he made during his first visit to Greensburg, Bush said: "There is a lot of destruction. Fortunately, a lot of folks had basements here in this part of the world and lived to see another day. Unfortunately, too many died." Almost 500soldiers from the National Guard were deployed to Greensburg to aid with recovery efforts, and the crews provided machinery and communications for the area. In April 2009, U.S. Representative Jerry Moran introduced the Greensburg, Kansas Recovery Extension Act to extend recovery funds through June 2010. The legislation died in committee and was never voted on by the House of Representatives. Long-term community recovery plan Shortly after the tornado, Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius stated that she wanted Greensburg to be "the greenest city in the state". FEMA activated the "long-term community recovery" (LTCR) program, which was designed to help recovery efforts in Greensburg over time. The United States Department of Energy (USDoE) collaborated with other agencies during the rebuilding process. The Greensburg Wind Farm was developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory; it would consist of ten 1.25-megawatt wind turbines. One of the most critical issues that Greensburg residents faced was finding a way to return to their homes; the LTCR prioritized rebuilding of housing units in Greensburg. The town's economy was significantly affected by the tornado; the LTCR aimed to combat that decline by preparing an Economic Development Strategy (EDS). The goal of the EDS was to not only boost Greensburg's economy, but to also encourage people to move to the city. Along with changes to Greensburg's energy sources, the LTCR also required that all buildings built within the city limits of Greensburg meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum certifications. A tornado-resistant "silo home" built within Greensburg attracted attention after the structure was completed in 2009; journalist Jennifer Goodman wrote in a September 2009publication of Architect Magazine that "the tiny town in Kansas once ravaged by a tornado is drawing eco-tourists from all over the world ". The publication also noted that 400tourists from as far away as Europe visited Greensburg from July to September 2007over a period of two months. Although the hand-dug, -deep Big Well was not destroyed, its respective water tower and an above-ground gift shop that were a centerpiece of the town's history were destroyed in the tornado. The original building was replaced with a circular structure that includes exhibits showcasing the town's history before and after the tornado; the museum reopened on May 26, 2012. Professional Engineering Consultants (PEC) was tasked with designing the new tower, which took 45days; construction was completed by Maguire Iron in 172days. The water tower was declared complete in May 2008, after having its exterior coated with approximately of Series 700HydroFlon, a protective thermosetting fluoropolymer designed for use on water towers. The Kiowa County Memorial Hospital was the only building that was an exception to the LEED Platinum requirement, although the hospital later attained the certification. The hospital became the first in the United States to operate using carbon neutral energy. In 2012, the hospital became the first to use entrapped rainwater to run water-based utilities, such as toilets. The rebuilt hospital is equipped with fifteen beds, two trauma rooms, and other rooms included in typical hospitals, while using renewable energy to maintain safety and functionality standards. Two 50-kilowatt wind turbines were installed on the site of the hospital to further reduce fossil fuel usage. County and state-level mitigation Kiowa County Due to Greensburg's size, the city did not have its own emergency services at the time of the tornado; those services were provided by Kiowa County. The county employed a part-time emergency manager who was responsible for the entire county's emergency plan in case of a disaster. Before the tornado, the county relied on an informational pamphlet from the 1990s as its emergency action plan; the pamphlet reportedly provided inadequate information in the event of a significant disaster. The pamphlet itself was lost during the tornado and was never located. State of Kansas The Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 required the state of Kansas to outline policies and requirements for cities regarding county and city-level mitigation. The plan, released in November 2004 and titled the Kansas Hazard Mitigation Plan (KMHP), stated that "mitigation be addressed in the required comprehensive emergency management plan developed by each county"; Kiowa County did not meet this requirement at the time and no punitive action was taken by the state of Kansas to enforce the requirement. The Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986 (EPCRA) led the state of Kansas to establish the Kansas Commission on Emergency Planning and Response (KCEPR), which was formed to ensure that the EPCRA was being followed. The KCEPR specifically focused on addressing emergencies involving hazardous industrial materials, but was later adopted by local emergency planning committees to address community-level hazards. Casualties 11 to 12 people were killed by the tornado. Ten of the fatalities occurred immediately during the tornado, and two others occurred later in hospitals as a result of tornadic injuries. One of the two in-hospital deaths was a police officer who was taken off life support while being treated for a tornado-induced head injury hours after the event, at a hospital in Wichita. Emergency management officials in Greensburg expected to need "hundreds of body bags". Approximately 90 people were taken to hospitals within the first day following the tornado. Greensburg's main hospital, the Kiowa County Memorial Hospital, was destroyed by the tornado; those who were injured had to be treated in several nearby cities with functional hospitals, including Dodge City, Pratt, Kinsley, and Wichita. The Pratt Regional Medical Center in Pratt received the most tornado patients of any hospital in the area, 59 people being transferred to the facility for treatment. Six patients who were already being treated for unrelated injuries at the Kiowa County Memorial Hospital before the tornado were transferred to the Comanche County Hospital, although none sustained tornadic injuries. A study carried out by the University of Kansas Health System in April 2013concluded that the critical mortality rate, a measure of the number of deaths in a certain population, from the tornado was 18% and that age was related to the degree of injuries sustained from the tornado. == Legacy ==

The tornado and its aftermath have been featured in two television series: Greensburg, created by actor Leonardo DiCaprio and which documents the aftermath of the tornado; and the Science Channel miniseries Build It Bigger: Rebuilding Greensburg. Depictions of the event are also present in several pieces of literature, including The Greening of Oz by author Robert Fraga. On June 16, 1928, an F2 tornado tracked through areas west and south of Greensburg, injuring two people. developed west of Greensburg and moved towards Macksville, crossing over areas that had been hit during the 2007 tornado. the second time in Greensburg's history that one had been issued. The tornado damaged the community of Brenham, although no fatalities or injuries were recorded. Television station KAKE described the tornado as "stirring up painful memories" of the 2007 event. == See also ==