Greensburg tornado

Last updated

List of fatalities directly attributed to the tornado [147]
  • Claude Hopkins, 79
  • Larry Hoskins, 51
  • David Lyon, 48
  • Colleen Panzer, 77
  • Ron Rediger, 57
  • Evelyn Kelly, 75
  • Sarah Tackett, 71
  • Beverly Volz, 52
  • Max McColm, 77
  • Richard Fry, 62
  • Harold Schmidt, 77
  • Tim Buckman, 46 [148] [149]

Twelve people were killed by the tornado. [150] [151] Ten of the fatalities occurred immediately during the tornado, and two others occurred later in hospitals as a result of tornadic injuries. [152] 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. [153] [154] Emergency management officials in Greensburg expected to need "hundreds of body bags". [155]

A shelter in Mullenville established by residents following the tornado FEMA - 30065 - Mullenville, Kansas temporary shelter.jpg
A shelter in Mullenville established by residents following the tornado

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. [156] The Pratt Regional Medical Center in Pratt received the most tornado patients of any hospital in the area, with 59 people being transferred to the facility for treatment. [157] Six patients who were already being treated for unrelated injuries at the Kiowa County Memorial Hospital prior to the tornado were transferred to the Comanche County Hospital, although none sustained tornadic injuries. [158] [159]

A study carried out by the University of Kansas Health System in April 2013 concluded 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. [160]

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 miniseries Build It Bigger: Rebuilding Greensburg. [161] Depictions of the event are also present in several pieces of literature, including The Greening of Oz by author Robert Fraga. [161] In the book, Fraga writes: "The reconstruction is nearly complete, and its a model for towns everywhere in this country. A new town has grown up out of the prairie with a spectacular collection of public buildings". [161]

Radar imagery of an EF3 tornado that prompted a tornado emergency for Greensburg on May 18, 2025 Kiowa County, Kansas tornado, 18 May 2025.gif
Radar imagery of an EF3 tornado that prompted a tornado emergency for Greensburg on May 18, 2025

Other tornadoes

Greensburg has seen numerous other tornadoes on its borders before and after the 2007 tornado. On May 22, 1923, an F3-rated tornado grazed the edge of town, injuring eight people and affecting 40 homes. [162] On June 16, 1928, an F2 tornado tracked 40 miles (64 km) [note 3] through areas west and south of Greensburg, injuring two people. [164] In April 2012, a large EF3 tornado, described by the National Weather Service as "eerily similar to the Greensburg tornado", [165] developed west of Greensburg and moved towards Macksville, crossing over areas that had been hit during the 2007 tornado. [165] On May 18, 2025, amid a destructive tornado outbreak across the region, a strong EF3 tornado moved through areas south and east of Greensburg, prompting a tornado emergency for the town. [166] The tornado damaged the community of Brenham, although no fatalities or injuries were recorded. [167] Television station KAKE described the tornado as "stirring up painful memories" of the 2007 tornado. [168]

See also

References

Notes

  1. Unless noted otherwise, all times in the article are in Central Daylight Time.
  2. Unless noted otherwise, all damage totals in the article are in 2007-adjusted U.S. Dollars.
  3. Possibly a tornado family. [163]

Citations

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  12. Tanamachi 2011, p. 53. "Lemon & Umschied 2008 reported at least 22 separate tornadoes spawned from the Greensburg storm based on surveyed tornado damage tracks."
  13. 1 2 Smith 2008 , p. 2. "Fifty years later, on May 4, 2007, a cluster of thunderstorms developed near and just north of the Oklahoma-Kansas border south southeast of Dodge City about 7:30pm. During the next hour, the activity consolidated so that, by 8:45pm a large supercell was located southeast of Dodge City along U.S. Highway 183 that was just beginning to produce tornadoes."
  14. "Definition of Wall Cloud". Comprehensive Glossary of Weather. Retrieved August 25, 2025.
  15. Smith 2008 , pp. 2–3. "At 8:30pm It was at this approximate time that storm spotters in the area began reporting rotating wall clouds."
  16. Smith 2008 , p. 3. "The first well-defined funnel clouds were reported around 8:45 with small tornadoes touching down between 8:45 and 9pm."
  17. "NOAA's National Weather Service - Glossary". National Weather Service . Retrieved August 19, 2025. A radar reflectivity pattern characterized by a hook-shaped extension of a thunderstorm echo, usually in the right-rear part of the storm (relative to its direction of motion). A hook often is associated with a mesocyclone, and indicates favorable conditions for tornado development.
  18. Smith 2008 , p. 3
  19. Smith 2008 , p. 3. "The tornado that would later strike Greensburg is on the ground under the hook (mesocyclone) and was destroying farm homes at this time."
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  21. Lemon & Umschied 2008 , Section 2.4. "It was also during this period that these multiple updrafts, BWERs, and mesocyclones produced brief and short track tornadoes."
  22. Lemon & Umschied 2008 , Section 2.4. "The tornado gradually grew in size then becoming a broad truncated cone or “wedge” shaped tornado."
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  24. "Event Report: EF1 Tornado". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration . Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved October 6, 2021. In Comanche county it struck some oil tanks and trees causing EF1 damage to those objects. Oil was strewn across pastures and a county road.
  25. Lemon & Umschied 2008 , Section 2.4
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  29. "Greensburg marks 15 years since deadly EF-5 tornado". KAKE . May 2, 2022. Retrieved February 6, 2025. 'It destroyed the vast majority of homes and businesses and infrastructure here in the city, and we had to rebuild pretty much from scratch,' Christenson said.
  30. "Greensburg residents wait on word from Dillons". The Manhattan Mercury . June 18, 2007. p. 3.
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  32. Marshall et al. 2008 , Section 2.4. "However, the vast majority of vehicles had been breached by flying debris of which 48 vehicles were rolled, tumbled, or lofted."
  33. "The tornado: Lessons Learned in Greensburg" (PDF). KCMH. p. 11. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 13, 2024. Retrieved February 7, 2025.
  34. Jenkins 2015 , p. 32. "Electrical service to the city was knocked out "
  35. Gertz, Emily (June 12, 2009). "Putting the "Green" in Greensburg: A Tornado-Ravaged Town Reinvents Itself". Scientific American . Archived from the original on February 23, 2025. Retrieved February 10, 2025. On the north side of this Midwestern town, an enormous white grain silo—one of few structures that survived a 2007 tornado
  36. "Greensburg: FEMA director tells of aid on way". The Kansas City Star . May 8, 2007. p. 10.
  37. 1 2 3 "Greensburg victims relive the warning that saved their lives". KSN-TV. May 4, 2017. Archived from the original on November 13, 2024. Retrieved February 10, 2025.
  38. Marshall et al. 2008 , Section 2.4. "We found debarked trees adjacent to homes at all EF-scale levels the greatest number of debarked trees occurring near homes with EF-4 ratings."
  39. Marshall et al. 2008 , Section 2.4. See Table 1
  40. Marshall et al. 2008 , Section 2.4. "We encountered 53 homes that slid off their brick foundations."
  41. Marshall et al. 2008 , Section 2.4. "EF-0 damage occurred to 194 homes. These homes were located on the periphery of the damage track, along the east and west edges of the town."
  42. Marshall et al. 2008 , Section 2.4. "As expected, the degree of damage to homes was more severe on the east side of the tornado track than on the west side."
  43. "Top Ten KS Tornadoes". National Weather Service . Archived from the original on December 20, 2019. Retrieved November 14, 2024. It curved north, then northwest, then made a complete loop 2 miles northwest of Greensburg as it dissipated.
  44. Lemon & Umschied 2008, Section 2.4. "First, the tornado movement had changed markedly to northwest as it moved through Greensburg. Second, the tornado was shrinking in size and had begun to actually loop back on itself as it passed through the town."
  45. Brinkmann, Heather (May 3, 2022). "First EF-5 tornado still changing lives in Greensburg, Kansas, 15 years later". Fox Weather . Retrieved November 12, 2024. It was estimated that the tornado wiped out 95% of Greensburg, causing $250 million in damage.
  46. "Event Report: EF5 Tornado". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration . Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved October 6, 2021. In all, 961 homes and businesses were destroyed, 216 received major damage and 307 received minor damage.
  47. 1 2 "Top Ten KS Tornadoes". National Weather Service . Archived from the original on December 20, 2019. Retrieved February 10, 2025. This monstrous vortex went down in history as the first tornado to be rated EF5 on the new Enhanced Fujita Scale with windspeeds that were estimated at 205 mph.
  48. "The Enhanced Fujita Scale (EF Scale)". National Weather Service . Archived from the original on November 14, 2024. Retrieved November 15, 2024. The Enhanced Fujita Scale or EF Scale, which became operational on February 1, 2007, is used to assign a tornado a 'rating' based on estimated wind speeds and related damage.
  49. 1 2 "The Enhanced Fujita Scale (EF Scale)". National Weather Service . Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  50. Bluestein 2009 , p. 899. "likely the most intense since the tornado that struck Oklahoma City and Moore, Oklahoma, on 3 May 1999"
  51. Bluestein 2009 , p. 899. "Other tornadoes, some also significant, tracked across portions of southern Kansas, but fortunately did not strike any heavily populated areas and did not inflict damage as extensive as that inflicted at Greensburg."
  52. 1 2 Tanamachi 2011 , Section 3.1. See table 2
  53. 1 2 Tanamachi 2011 , Section 2.4. "Tornado 5 had at least five satellite tornadoes, two of which were anticyclonic, as well as several more accompanying non-tornadic circulations detected by UMass X-Pol."
  54. Edwards, Roger (December 16, 2024). "The Online Tornado FAQ - How are tornadoes in the northern hemisphere different from tornadoes in the southern hemisphere?". Storm Prediction Center. Archived from the original on March 26, 2018. Retrieved May 2, 2019. Anticyclonic tornadoes (clockwise-spinning in the northern hemisphere) have been observed, however- usually in the form of waterspouts, non-supercell land tornadoes, or anticyclonic whirls around the rim of a supercell's mesocyclone.
  55. Lemon & Umschied 2008 , Section 2.4. "This satellite vortex surface contact was probably over the same damage path created minutes before by the GT, but at this time we are not certain we have visual confirmation owing to uncertainty in time and video location."
  56. Lemon & Umschied 2008 , Section 2.4. "The anticyclonic tornado, the largest of the two satellite tornadoes visually, was ~4 km south or south southeast of the GT the second (cyclonic) satellite tornado was ~3 km to the east southeast."
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  58. Hanks, Kathy. "Learning from Greensburg: National Weather Service's storm warning system saved lives 10 years ago". The Hutchinson News . Retrieved February 10, 2025. Ten years ago, storm chaser Lance Ferguson played an important role in the Greensburg tornado because of Ferguson, meteorologists were able to send a warning of the approaching tornado
  59. "Early twister warning probably saved lives". NBC News . Associated Press. May 7, 2007. Archived from the original on February 23, 2025. Retrieved February 8, 2025. but residents said it could have been far worse if not for a warning that gave them time to take shelter in storm cellars and basements.
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  62. "KSN says goodbye to Meteorologist Dave Freeman after 24 years". KSN-TV. May 25, 2017. Archived from the original on March 10, 2024. Retrieved February 10, 2025. That vigilance convinced many people to take shelter during the Greensburg tornado and won Dave his second Broadcaster of the Year award in 2008 from the National Weather Association.
  63. Marshall et al. 2008 , p. 1. "Approximately 95 percent of the town was destroyed including more than 500 homes and dozens of businesses."
  64. Hutton 2008, p. 1. "Considering that around 800,000 cubic yards of debris had to be removed after the devastation and utilities had to be reconstructed, its amazing what has taken place since last May."
  65. Paul et al. 2007, p. 3. "Access was controlled given concerns about looting and complete disruption of water and electricity, but also because of the dangerous cleanup conditions, including leaking hazardous chemicals."
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  68. Kroone, Janice (June 10, 2007). "Pollution Report Profile". Environmental Protection Agency . Archived from the original on May 5, 2017. Retrieved February 8, 2025. As of June 9, 2007, the EPA team has demobilized from Greensburg. EPA is prepared to offer technical assistance as needed.
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  71. Jenkins 2015 , p. 32. "24 businesses were critically damaged, and 110 businesses were damaged beyond repair."
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  76. Marshall et al. 2008 , Section 2.4. "Just as with the High School, the east and west walls were broadsided by the strongest winds and collapsed to the west in the east and south buildings."
  77. Marshall et al. 2008 , Section 2.4. "Still, the degree of damage to the Elementary School yielded an EF-4 rating."
  78. Marshall et al. 2008 , Section 2.4. "The High School was located about one block east of the convergence line and experienced the strongest winds from the south through east."
  79. Marshall et al. 2008 , Section 2.4. "Walls in the top story of the main building and south wing were broadsided by the strongest winds and collapsed to the west."
  80. Marshall et al. 2008 , p. 5. "Still, the degree of damage to the High School yielded an EF-4 rating."
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  88. Marshall et al. 2008, Section 2.4.
  89. Castillo, Brent (July 31, 2008). "The greening of a critical access hospital". Healthcare Design Magazine. Archived from the original on February 16, 2025. Retrieved February 9, 2025. Its roof and many precast concrete beams were torn off, walls collapsed, and equipment was scattered all staff, patients, and some residents remained safe in the basement shelter of the hospital.
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  93. Sheldon et al. 2007 , Section 2.4. "No “tornado shelters” designed to resist the wind and debris associated with a tornado were identified during this effort."
  94. "Early twister warning probably saved lives". NBC News . The Associated Press. May 7, 2007. Retrieved August 31, 2025. The death toll from a tornado that nearly obliterated this farming town climbed to 9 on Monday, but residents said it could have been far worse if not for a warning that gave them time to take shelter in storm cellars and basements.
  95. Sheldon et al. 2007 , p. 4.1. "Consideration should be given to adding two additional building types to the EF Scale. One would be old load-bearing masonry buildings The other building type to add would be timber frame buildings "
  96. Tanamachi et al. 2012 , p. 2106. " Data from the UMass X-Pol have been incorporated in studies of severe storms and tornadoes over the past decade "
  97. Tanamachi et al. 2012 , p. 2104. "The purpose of this study is to document the University of Massachusetts X-band, mobile, polarimetric Doppler radar (UMass X-Pol; Bluestein et al. 2007a) data collected during the early life cycle of the 4 May 2007 Greensburg, Kansas, CTS "
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  100. Hegeman, Roxana (September 7, 2007). "FEMA repairing its reputation in Greensburg". Lawrence Journal-World. Archived from the original on July 16, 2014. Retrieved February 8, 2025. about 200 FEMA mobile homes arranged in neat rows on the outskirts of town
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  102. Hegeman, Roxana (September 7, 2007). "FEMA repairing its reputation in Greensburg". Lawrence Journal-World. Archived from the original on July 16, 2014. Retrieved February 8, 2025. About 750 residents are left in Greensburg, more than 500 of them living in what residents call "Femaville" – about 200 FEMA mobile homes arranged in neat rows on the outskirts of town, where children play in the newly paved streets The men were impressed to find it came furnished complete with linens, blankets, dishes and even cutlery.
  103. Paul et al. 2007 , p. 16. "Designating public buildings, such as school buildings and hospitals as public shelter, emergency managers provided temporary accommodations for the tornado victims of Greensburg."
  104. "'We've got each other,' survivors affirm". The Kansas City Star . May 6, 2007. p. 17.
  105. Hegeman, Roxana (September 7, 2007). "FEMA repairing its reputation in Greensburg". Lawrence Journal-World. Archived from the original on July 16, 2014. Retrieved February 8, 2025. Not only that, but FEMA announced it would cover 100 percent of the town's cleanup costs
  106. Hegeman, Roxana (September 7, 2007). "FEMA repairing its reputation in Greensburg". Lawrence Journal-World. Archived from the original on July 16, 2014. Retrieved February 8, 2025. The agency so far has spent $7.6 million in Greensburg for housing assistance, and almost $10 million to help fix infrastructure.
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  108. "The Rebuilding of Greensburg – one year later" (PDF). National Weather Service . p. 5. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 20, 2025. Retrieved February 10, 2025. 7604 - Number of volunteers working in Greensburg registered by AmeriCorps
  109. "The Rebuilding of Greensburg – one year later" (PDF). National Weather Service . p. 5. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 20, 2025. Retrieved February 10, 2025. 57786 - Hours of work logged by volunteers
  110. "President Bush Visits Greensburg, Kansas to Survey Tornado Damage, Offer Condolences". White House Archives. Archived from the original on November 13, 2024. Retrieved November 12, 2024. President George W. Bush offers some encouragement during a tour of the small, Midwest community in the wake of a deadly tornado.
  111. "Bush tours town wiped away by tornado". NBC News . Associated Press. May 9, 2007. Archived from the original on January 5, 2025. Retrieved December 25, 2024. 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," he said.
  112. Greg, Rudl (May 11, 2007). "National Guard cleaning up devastated Kansas town". United States Air Force . Archived from the original on November 12, 2024. Retrieved November 12, 2024. After this small southwestern Kansas town was leveled by an F5 tornado on the evening of May 4, nearly 500 Kansas National Guard Airmen and Soldiers were called up and reported for duty.
  113. Moran, Jerry (April 22, 2009). "H.R.2052 - Greensburg, Kansas Recovery Extension Act". 111th United States Congress. Archived from the original on July 9, 2022. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  114. "Greensburg, Kansas, Tornado Response - Cleanup". Environmental Protection Agency . February 21, 2016. Retrieved February 10, 2025. Shortly after the tornado disaster, Governor Kathleen Sebelius stated her wish that Greensburg become "the greenest city in the state,"
  115. FEMA 2007 , p. 9. "The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) activated the Long-Term Community Recovery (LTCR) program "
  116. "Greensburg, Kansas Recovery Plan". ICMA . January 1, 2010. Archived from the original on November 12, 2024. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
  117. "Building green in Greensburg: Wind Farm" (PDF). United States Department of Energy . Archived (PDF) from the original on November 12, 2024. Retrieved November 12, 2024. Ten 1.25 megawatt (MW) wind turbines supply a total of 12.5 MW of renewable wind energy to the town and beyond
  118. FEMA 2007 , p. 33. "One of the greatest needs identified by Greensburg and Kiowa County residents was finding a way to return home."
  119. FEMA 2007 , p. 33. "The state and other disaster recovery partners have made rebuilding housing one of the highest priorities in Greensburg."
  120. FEMA 2007 , p. 49. "Prepare an Economic Development Strategy"
  121. FEMA 2007 , p. 49. "A strong economy and positive business climate will encourage people to stay in Greensburg and Kiowa County and to rebuild what was lost."
  122. 1 2 3 "Building green in Greensburg: Kiowa County Memorial Hospital" (PDF). United States Department of Energy . Archived (PDF) from the original on January 2, 2025. Retrieved January 2, 2025. Completed in March 2010, the hospital is built to achieve the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum designation.
  123. 1 2 Ferenc, Jeff (June 11, 2015). "Rebuilt hospital serves as model of sustainability". HFM Magazine. Archived from the original on January 2, 2025. Retrieved February 7, 2025. Following a 2007 tornado, Kiowa County Memorial Hospital comes back stronger than before with a LEED Platinum facility.
  124. Goodman, Jennifer (September 3, 2009). "Case Study: Tornado-Resistant Silo Home Debuts in Greensburg, Kan". Architect Magazine . Archived from the original on May 18, 2022. Retrieved February 8, 2025.
  125. Brown, Hannah (July 17, 2020). "The Big Well reopens". Salina Journal . Archived from the original on April 12, 2021. Retrieved February 8, 2025. The above ground facility was destroyed by the May 2007 F5 tornado
  126. "Greensburg marks 15 years since deadly EF-5 tornado". KAKE. May 2, 2022. Retrieved February 8, 2025. The Big Well and then there was a farm implement dealer that was hit with a lot of tractors, and with it that damage as well.
  127. Stephens, Lu Anne (January 8, 2021). "How Greensburg Rebuilt Its Tourist Attraction — And Itself — After A Devastating Tornado". KMUW. Archived from the original on August 18, 2022. Retrieved February 8, 2025. The Big Well was built by hand in 1887 32 feet wide, and 109 feet deep.
  128. 1 2 Stephens, Lu Anne (January 8, 2021). "How Greensburg Rebuilt Its Tourist Attraction — And Itself — After A Devastating Tornado". KMUW. Archived from the original on August 18, 2022. Retrieved February 8, 2025. Caitlin Matile is the manager and tourism director "We do a very good job of displaying things what it was, what it is now," she said.
  129. "Greensburg Water Tower Reconstruction" (PDF). Tnemec. Retrieved February 8, 2025. the new spheroid tank was designed in 45 days by Professional Engineering Consultants, P.A. and constructed in 172 days by Maguire Iron, Inc.
  130. "Greensburg Water Tower Reconstruction" (PDF). Tnemec. Retrieved February 8, 2025. followed by a finish coat of Series 700 HydroFlon, an advanced thermoset fluoropolymer designed especially for water tanks Approximately 165 gallons of Tnemec protective coatings were required for the tower
  131. Shideler, Karen (March 12, 2010). "Greensburg hospital done". The Wichita Eagle . Retrieved February 8, 2025. Greensburg's $25 million hospital is opening its doors to the public today
  132. "Nearly 3 years after twister, Kansas hospital to rise from rubble" . The Oklahoman . January 24, 2010. Archived from the original on November 12, 2024. Retrieved February 9, 2025. But the Kiowa County Memorial Hospital won't be in the same location
  133. Guenther, Robin (December 1, 2015). "Building health". Boston Society for Architecture. Archived from the original on October 5, 2024. Retrieved March 17, 2025.
  134. "Following a Devastating Tornado, Town and Hospital Rebuild to Harness Wind Energy". U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit. Archived from the original on November 12, 2024. Retrieved November 12, 2024. and in 2012 it became the first hospital to use captured rainwater to flush toilets.
  135. "Building Green in Greensburg: Kiowa County Memorial Hospital" (PDF). United States Department of Energy . Archived (PDF) from the original on January 2, 2025. Retrieved February 8, 2025. The 50,000-square-foot building includes 15 acute-care beds, rural health and specialty clinics, an emergency department with two trauma rooms and other support areas.
  136. "Building Green In Greensburg: Kiowa County Memorial Hospital" (PDF). United States Department of Energy . Archived (PDF) from the original on January 2, 2025. Retrieved February 8, 2025. and designed a first-of-its kind energy-efficient hospital, while still meeting functional and safety requirements.
  137. "Building Green in Greensburg: Kiowa County Memorial Hospital" (PDF). United States Department of Energy . Archived (PDF) from the original on January 2, 2025. Retrieved February 7, 2025. On-site, grid-tied, 50 kilowatt (kW) wind turbine generates 220,000 kWh annually to partially off-set the hospital's energy use.
  138. Jenkins 2015 , p. 32. "The city of Greensburg’s small size did not allow for the city to employ its own emergency services (fire, police, ambulance, etc.), which were instead provided by the county,"
  139. Jenkins 2015 , p. 32. "At the time, Kiowa County employed a part-time emergency manager who was responsible for the county’s overall emergency plan."
  140. Jenkins 2015 , p. 32. " the county relied solely on an informational pamphlet from the early 1990s as its emergency operations plan. According to Stegman, the pamphlet was generic in theme and content, providing inadequate preparation for a significant hazard event."
  141. Jenkins 2015 , pp. 32–33. "(This pamphlet was lost in the May 4, 2007, tornado and cannot be located for examination or consultation.)"
  142. Jenkins 2015 , p. 33. "In order to comply with the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (DMA), the state of Kansas utilized a detailed standard operating procedure to outline policies and requirements for cities and counties regarding mandatory and voluntary mitigation and preparedness actions."
  143. Jenkins 2015 , p. 33. "This requirement was not met by Kiowa County, and no enforcement action was taken by the state to ensure compliance."
  144. Jenkins 2015 , p. 33. "In order to comply with the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) of 1986, also known as Title III of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act, the state of Kansas established the Kansas Commission on Emergency Planning and Response (CEPR) CEPR was initially established by Kansas Statute Chapter 48, Article 9, to ensure adherence to the EPCRA "
  145. Jenkins 2015 , p. 33. and was specifically focused on addressing dangers related to hazardous industrial materials emergencies."
  146. Jenkins 2015 , p. 33. "Today, the Kansas CEPR promotes utilizing local emergency planning committees (LEPCs) to address most community hazards "
  147. Finger, Stan (May 4, 2017). "Remembering those who died in the Greensburg tornado". The Wichita Eagle . Archived from the original on September 12, 2021. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
  148. Ablah et al. 2013, p. 94. See Table 2
  149. "Kansas officer dies from twister injuries". The Seattle Times . May 9, 2007. Archived from the original on February 24, 2025. Retrieved February 13, 2025. Officer Robert Tim Buckman was rushing to warn rural residents about the approaching storm when the tornado swept up his squad car and flung it 300 yards into a field.
  150. Ablah et al. 2013 , p. 90. "On May 4, 2007 an EF5 tornado hit the rural community of Greensburg, KS, destroying 95% of the town and resulting in 12 fatalities."
  151. Gowen, Annie (October 23, 2020). "The town that built back green". The Washington Post . Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved August 19, 2025. Twelve people died.
  152. Ablah et al. 2013 , p. 91. "As a result of this tornado, 12 fatalities were reported, 10 of which were immediate and 2 were in-hospital deaths."
  153. "Kansas tornado claims "hero"" . The Denver Post . Associated Press. May 8, 2007. Archived from the original on February 23, 2025. Retrieved February 14, 2025.
  154. "Kansas Tornado Death Toll Rises". CBS News . Associated Press. May 8, 2007. Archived from the original on February 23, 2025. Retrieved February 14, 2025. The death toll from one of the strongest tornadoes to hit the United States in the past eight years climbed to 11 on Tuesday when a critically injured Kansas police officer was removed from life support.
  155. Finger, Stan (March 2, 2008). "Greensburg showed which systems work, which have gaps". The Wichita Eagle . p. 8.
  156. Ablah et al. 2013 , p. 92. "Because KCMH, Greensburg’s local hospital, had been destroyed, sent to hospitals in other Kansas communities, including Pratt, Dodge City, Kinsley, and Wichita."
  157. Ablah et al. 2013 , p. 92. "Pratt Regional Medical Center (PRMC) was the most likely receiver of patients Fifty-nine patients were treated at PRMC "
  158. Ablah et al. 2013 , p. 92. "Patients who had been at KCMH before the tornado were transferred to Comanche County Hospital, which received a total of 6 swing bed patients from KCMH."
  159. Ablah et al. 2013 , p. 92. "These 6 patients did not have tornado-related injuries and received care only for their pre-tornado conditions."
  160. Ablah et al. 2013. "Age was found to be related to injury severity, but no relationship between sex and injury severity was found. Critical mortality was found to be 18% for this event."
  161. 1 2 3 Quinn, Patrick (April 13, 2013). "After devastating tornado, town is reborn 'green'". USA Today . Archived from the original on November 12, 2024. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
  162. Grazulis 1990 , p. 178
  163. Grazulis 1990, p. 211
  164. Grazulis 1990 , p. 211
  165. 1 2 "April 14, 2012 tornado outbreak". National Weather Service . Retrieved August 13, 2025.
  166. "KDDC Tornado (Particularly Dangerous Situation) Emergency #9". Iowa Environmental Mesonet. Iowa State University. Archived from the original on May 27, 2025. Retrieved May 23, 2025.
  167. Various National Weather Service offices (2025). "Damage Assessment Toolkit" (Interactive map and database). DAT. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original on April 23, 2020. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
  168. O'Brien, Lily (May 19, 2025). "Greensburg residents relieved as tornado skips town, stirs memories from deadly EF-5 in 2007". KAKE . Retrieved August 15, 2025.

Sources

Further reading

Event studies

Aftermath

Greensburg tornado
Greensburg tornado entering town.jpg
Greensburg kansas tornado.jpg
FEMA - 29973 - Photograph by Michael Raphael taken on 05-12-2007 in Kansas.jpg
FEMA - 33066 - Disaster recovery workers (debris) at work in Kansas.jpg
Greensburg radar.jpg
Clockwise from top: A still taken of the large tornado as it appeared at night while impacting Greensburg, a heavily damaged house in Greensburg, radar imagery of the storm system that produced the tornado, workers helping cleanup efforts in Greensburg, damage to downtown Greensburg, which took a direct hit from the tornado.