Clockwise from top: A still taken by storm chaser Andy Fischer of the tornado as it appeared while impacting Greensburg (at this point, the tornado had taken on a large "wedge" shape),[note 1] 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.
During the evening hours of Friday,May 4,2007,amid a tornado outbreak across the central United States,a large,violent and devastating EF5tornado moved through Kiowa County,Kansas,causing catastrophic damage to the town of Greensburg. The tornado,known as the Greensburg EF5or GT in a later study,[note 2] tracked 28.8 miles (46.3km) through the area,killing 12 people directly and injuring 63 others. The tornado was the first to be rated EF5on the Enhanced Fujita scale after the retirement of the original Fujita scale in the United States on February 1,2007.
The tornado touched down in northern Comanche County,moving to the north while continuously widening. The nocturnal wedge tornado eventually entered into Kiowa County,crossing U.S. Route 183before entering the city limits of Greensburg. The tornado heavily damaged Greensburg as it moved through;662structures in the town sustained some form of damage before the tornado left the area. Northwest of Greensburg,the tornado suddenly turned,moving in a counter circular direction before dissipating. The tornado was on the ground for shortly over an hour and reached a peak width of 1.7 miles (2.7km) to the south of Greensburg.
The tornado devastated Greensburg,damaging 95% of the town and leaving monetary losses of $250million (2007USD)[note 3] in its wake. Rebuilding efforts after the tornado were intensive,and several major government agencies collaborated with state agencies to help rebuild the town with the goal of making it a "green town" using a Long-Term Community Recovery (LTCR) plan. The plan included requiring all buildings in Greensburg to gain LEED Platinum certification,along with installing wind turbines in the city. The Kiowa County Memorial Hospital,which was destroyed by the tornado,was the first hospital in the United States to achieve carbon neutrality following its rebuilding in 2010. Kiowa County was also declared a disaster area in the immediate aftermath of the tornado.
The tornado greatly affected the economy and population of Kiowa County as a whole;the population of Greensburg dropped from 1,574residents in 2000to 777residents in 2010 as a direct result of damage produced by the tornado. Greensburg still sees difficulty attracting residents due to the cost of homes in the area,although it has become a point of interest among eco-tourists visiting to see the "green town" built by the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Long-Term Community Recovery plan.
On May 4,[4] a low-pressure area stalled over the High Plains and additional moisture coming from the Gulf of Mexico moved in behind the warm front and increased amounts of instability across much of the region, with convective available potential energy (CAPE) values as high as 4,500J/kg (joules per kilogram),[5] which is a metric that indicates the amount of fuel in the atmosphere that is available to a developing thunderstorm.[6] In addition, the dry line, which marks a divided line between the dry and humid air mass, was positioned over the southern High Plains. This allowed for the initiation of scattered supercells on May 4. High wind shear also allowed for intense rotation in the atmosphere. All of the ingredients were present in the atmosphere for the developing of supercell thunderstorms producing damaging wind, large hail and tornadoes.[4]
The Storm Prediction Center issued a moderate risk for severe weather across western Kansas and small portions of Oklahoma, Colorado and Nebraska for May 4, while temperatures were in the mid to high 80°F range (near 30°C). Storms began to develop in the late afternoon hours in western Oklahoma and the eastern Texas Panhandle.[7] The most intense supercells developed in the early evening hours across northwestern Oklahoma and southwestern Kansas. One of these intense tornadic supercells eventually produced 20to 22tornadoes, including the Greensburg tornado.[8][9]
At around 7:00pm CDT,[note 4] the National Weather Service office in Dodge City, Kansas began to detect a mesocyclone associated with a parent supercell. Several minutes later, a bounded weak echo region (BWER) began to be present on radar, located on then storm's northern flank. As the storm continued to move northeast, strong inflow was being detected in the lower levels of the supercell, and the supercell began to slow to 26.8 miles per hour (43.1km/h). At around this time, two more BWERs were detected.[10]
Discrete circulation soon began to be monitored within the Greensburg supercell, which was beginning to become stronger. Shortly after this circulation was first detected, the Greensburg tornado would touch down.[11] The cell went on to produce at least 21other tornadoes, including five confirmed satellites of the Greensburg tornado.[12]
Tornado summary
The tornado warning, seen as a red polygon, that was issued for Greensburg in advance, prior to the tornado striking the town
The National Weather Service was praised for its advanced warning that was sent out up to 39minutes before the tornado actually hit Greensburg,[13] a metric that was above the average advanced warn time of 10to 18minutes.[14] The warning was 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.[15] A tornado emergency hadn't been issued by any forecast office nationwide since the 1999Bridge Creek–Moore, Oklahoma F5tornado.[16]
It is believed that these warnings saved 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 town.[17][18]
Television station KSNW broadcast live coverage of the storms, including the Greensburg tornado before and as it hit Greensburg.[19] KSNW Chief Meteorologist Dave Freeman led coverage of the event. One survivor of the tornado stated that Freeman's coverage had saved his life,[20] and several survivors took shelter because of the broadcast. Freeman was praised for his live coverage of the event and as a result was named as the National Weather Association's Broadcaster of the Year for 2008,[21] his second time winning the award after winning it in 1992.[22][23]
The rotating supercell that later produced the Greensburg tornado was accompanied by several short-tracked tornadoes.[25] One of these rope tornadoes, located on the westernmost side of the mesocyclone began to rapidly strengthen, taking on a wedge shape shortly after touching down at 9:03pm.[26][27]
As the main tornado continued through rural areas, many trees were snapped and debarked, ground scouring occurred, and oil tanks were destroyed, with oil strewn across pastures and a road.[28] It continued to grow in size as the very large wedge tornado approached the city of Greensburg from the south. As the tornado crossed Highway 183south of town, it reached its maximum width of 1.7 miles (2.7km).[29] Several farmsteads along the highway were damaged or destroyed, numerous livestock were killed, and trees were denuded and debarked in this area as well. At 9:41pm, the National Weather Service office in Dodge City issued a tornado emergency for Greensburg, which noted that "A VIOLENT TORNADO WAS ON A DIRECT PATH FOR PORTIONS OF GREENSBURG ... THIS IS AN EMERGENCY SITUATION FOR GREENSBURG".[30]
Impact in Greensburg
Reflectivity (left) and velocity (right) imagery taken by a NEXRAD radar of the tornado, indicated as a purple and later red triangle, approaching Greensburg from the south before dissipating. A distinct hook echo is visible in the reflectivity imagery. A second triangle to the northeast of Greensburg indicates an extremely large second tornado that moved through areas near Trousdale and received an EF3 rating.[31]
The large tornado continued due-north following Main Street into the south side of Greensburg. Multiple homes, including an entire row of seven adjacent residences, were completely swept away and scattered across a field at the south edge of town. Three of the houses were well-bolted to their foundations, and ground scouring occurred nearby. Damage in this area was given varying ratings.[32] The tornado weakened slightly as it entered residential areas in southern Greensburg, but remained violent as it directly impacted Delmar Day Elementary School, completely leveling a section of the building and flattening many homes nearby at EF4intensity. Continuing north, downtown Greensburg was completely devastated by the tornado; the Greensburg City Hall and many other businesses were destroyed,[33][34] including Fleener's Furniture Store, Dillon's Grocery Store and Sutton's True Value Hardware Store.[35] A motel on the west side of town was severely damaged and vehicles were lofted and rolled by the tornado.[36]
The Greensburg High School, located around one block east of the tornado's inflow,[37] was heavily damaged at EF4intensity.[38] Several fire hydrants were ripped from the ground in town as well. The city's water tower was completely toppled and smashed, and the visitor's center at the Big Well was completely destroyed. Train cars were also overturned and hazardous materials teams were called to inspect the wreckage. A tank car carrying about 14,000 gallons (53,000 liters) of ammonia started to leak when workers lifted it. 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.[39] Meanwhile, the Greensburg meteorite, which was feared to have been blown away, was found and recovered near the Ellis Peck Farm east of Greensburg a few days afterwards.[40] The Greensburg Mennonite Church was destroyed in this area.[41] Trees throughout the town were completely stripped of all bark, the greatest number of debarked trees being located near homes that sustained EF4damage.[42]
Damage to a home in Greensburg
A damage survey conducted by Timothy P. Marshall, Joshua Wurman and several other experts found that a total of 53homes were slid off of brick foundations that anchored the homes to the ground.[43] 194homes sustained EF0damage; the vast majority of these homes were located along the outer path of the tornado on the east and west side of town.[44] The survey also concluded that damage on the tornado's east side was more severe than damage of that on its west side.[45]
As the tornado exited the city limits of Greensburg, it began to weaken. The tornado 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 pm.[46][47][48] The total path length was 22.8 miles (37km), and the width of the funnel reached 1.7 miles (2.7km). Overall, 95% of Greensburg was destroyed.[49] A total of 961homes and businesses were destroyed, 216received major damage and 307received minor damage.[50] The National Weather Service rated the worst of the damage caused by the tornado EF5 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale(EF scale),[51] which was determined to have been inflicted to seven residences.[52] 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.[53][51]
Satellite tornadoes
During the early stages of the tornado's life, numerous videos and later research showed that at least five confirmed satellite tornadoes existed around the main tornado.[54] Two of these satellites were anticyclonic tornadoes,[55] which rotate clockwise instead of the counter-clockwise motion that most tornadoes in the Northern Hemisphere exhibit.[56] These anticyclonic tornadoes were confirmed by the RaXPol instrument used by the University of Massachusetts.[55] One of these satellite tornadoes likely crossed over the same damage path produced by the main tornado.[57] The largest satellite tornado was located around 1.85 miles (3.0km) southeast of the main tornado.[58]
List of confirmed satellites of the Greensburg tornado - May 4, 2007[54]
Damage to downtown Greensburg a month after the tornado
Greensburg took a direct hit from the tornado and was left in ruins as a result,[59] with 95% of structures within city limits sustaining some degree of tornado-related damage.[60] Over 800,000 cubic yards (610,000m3) of tornado-related debris was removed from Greensburg in the aftermath of the tornado.[61] Initial recovery attempts in the days following the tornado were stunted by disruption of electricity and other hazardous conditions that made it difficult to clean up the town.[62] Then-PresidentGeorge W. Bush declared a disaster area for Kiowa County,[63] along with 41other Kansas counties.[64] Immediately after the tornado, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) dispatched on-scene coordinators to Greensburg; the agency was tasked with addressing fuel releases and mitigating damaged transformers.[65] The EPA left Greensburg in June 2007, shortly over a month after the tornado.[66]
The population of Greensburg dropped from 1,574residents in 2000to 777residents in 2010,[67] a metric that was directly influenced by the tornado.[68] The tornado ruined the town's economy, leaving industrial businesses practically non-existent with no way for residents to earn money.[68] The town's economy was still affected by the tornado ten years after the event; the town has seen trouble attracting residents because homes sold at a higher price that those of neighboring towns.[69][70]
Several notable businesses were destroyed by the tornado, including Dillon's Grocery Store and Fleener's Furniture Store; the former was the only full-service grocery store in Kiowa County and the latter was the only furniture store located in county limits.[35] A Daylight Donuts coffee shop and the local bank were heavily damaged or destroyed by the tornado.[71]
Greensburg High School
EF4-rated damage to the Greensburg High School
The Greensburg High School, located around one block east of the tornado's inflow, was heavily damaged and as a result was later demolished.[72][73] 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, causing the collapse.[74] Damage to the high school received an EF4 rating.[38]
Delmer Day Elementary School
EF4-rated damage to the Delmer Day Elementary School, located in southeastern Greensburg.
The Delmer Day Elementary School, located in the southeast portion of Greensburg, was the subject of an in-depth damage survey, which detailed how the school collapsed. Similarly to the Greensburg High School, the elementary was located to the east of the tornado's inflow, and strong winds initiated a collapse on the school's south and east-facing walls.[75] A lack of steel vertical columns along the school's window sills, accompanied by weak hinge lines, was concluded to be the cause of the collapse. Like the high school, damage inflicted to the school was eventually given an EF4rating.[76]
Both the Greensburg High School and Delmer Day Elementary School were heavily damaged to such an extent 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.[77] 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 town as quickly as possible, people wouldn't have a reason to move back";[78] a permanent countywide school began to serve Greensburg in 2010.[78]
Kiowa County Memorial Hospital
The Kiowa County Memorial Hospital was reinforced with internal vertical steel beams which extended along the floors and ceilings, along with double-thick masonry walls. Despite this, the hospital sustained heavy damage, and a 9,900 pounds (4,500kg) steel beam was lifted from the hospital's frame and lofted into a vehicle to the hospital's northeast. The damage survey conducted by Timothy Marshall and other engineers concluded that winds of 147 miles per hour (237km/h) were needed to lift and toss the beam, which garnered damage to the hospital an EF3rating.[79] The tornado also tore off the roof of the hospital, collapsed the walls of the building and scattered medical equipment around. Staff and patients in the structure took shelter in a basement and as result were unharmed.[80]
The hospital was unable to functionally be used as a care facility as a result of the tornado. Workers on-site checked for victims in the facility, finding none, and a secondary care location was set up at the Heart to Heart International trailers in Olathe, Kansas. On May 21, three weeks after the tornado, a temporary "tent hospital" operated by the 190th Air Refueling Wing stationed in Topeka, Kansas was set up.[81][82] 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.[82]
Map of tornado damage in Greensburg produced from the survey
Tornado Damage Investigation, Greensburg, Kansas
The Federal Emergency Management Agency made two visits to Greensburg in May 2007, both following the tornado. During these visits, structural engineers with the URS Corporation conducted a damage survey separate to the one made by engineers with the Haag Company. The survey studied 46residential structures in Greensburg that were damaged to varying degrees. The damage survey found that the worst tornadic damage cut a 5-block wide swath through the center of Greensburg and that zero tornado shelters were located in Greensburg during the survey.[76][83] The survey also noted recommendations for the newly-implemented Enhanced Fujita Scale, recommending that two new Degree of Damage (DOD) indicators be added to the list of 23existing indicators to evaluate the scale of damage to load-bearing masonry buildings and timber-frame buildings.[84]
Rebuilding efforts and reactions
Temporary housing sites in Greensburg that were set up by FEMA in the immediate aftermath of the tornado, dubbed "Femaville" by some residents
Following the tornado, many families signed up to reside in the 200temporary housing units aligned in rows,[85] or "FEMA shelters" provided by FEMA, where residents lived for up to eighteen months.[86] 500of the 750residents who remained in the town lived in these housing sites, dubbed "Femaville" by some residents of Greensburg. The temporary housing units came equipped with items like blankets and dishes to help living conditions while recovery efforts were underway.[87] Schools and other public buildings in the neighboring towns of Mullinvile, Bucklin and Haviland were also used as temporary shelters for victims of the tornado.[88] In addition to providing shelters, FEMA declared that it would pay for 100% of cleanup costs after the event,[89] including at least $6.7million for housing assistance and at least $10million for repairing infrastructure in the town.[90] FEMA also hired 21Greensburg residents to work in recovery positions;[91] the 7,604volunteers registered by AmeriCorps working to help recovery efforts logged a total of 57,786volunteer hours.[92][93]
Then-President George W. Bush visited Greensburg twice following the tornado to survey damage.[94][95] 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."[96]
Almost 500soldiers from the United States National Guard were deployed to Greensburg to aid with recovery efforts, and the crews provided machinery and communications for the area.[97]
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".[98] FEMA activated the Long-Term Community Recovery (LTCR) program,[99] which was designed to help recovery efforts with joint cooperation with the State of Kansas and other federal agencies willing to help.[100] The United States Department of Energy (USDoE) collaborated with other agencies during the rebuilding process, and converted Greensburg's main energy source from fossil fuels to wind, collected using wind turbines. As a result, the Greensburg Wind Farm was developed, consisting of ten 1.25-megawatt turbines.[101]
One of the most critical issues that Greensburg residents pointed out was finding a way to return to their homes.[102] As a result, the LTCR prioritized rebuilding of housing units in Greensburg to avoid a decline in Greensburg's population.[103] The decline in population that Greensburg saw from 2007to 2010also heavily affected the town's economy, which the LTCR aimed to combat by preparing an Economic Development Strategy (EDS).[104] The goal of the EDS was to not only boost Greensburg's economy, but to also encourage people to move to the town.[105]
New wood-framed homes being constructed in Greensburg
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.[106][107] A tornado-resistant "silo home" built within Greensburg attracted attention after building of the structure 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.[108]
Although the hand-dug, 109 feet (33m)-deep Big Well was not destroyed, its respective water tower and an above-ground gift shop that was a centerpiece of the town's history was destroyed in the tornado.[109][110][111] The original building was replaced with a circular structure that includes exhibits showcasing the town's history before and following the tornado; the museum reopened on May 26, 2012.[112] Caitlin Matile, who is the tourism director and manager of Greensburg, stated "we do a very good job of displaying things ... what it was, what it is now"; new stairs were added into the well to let visitors reach the bottom.[113]
The rebuilt Big Well Water Tower in May 2008 (left) and May 2010 (right). By 2010, the water tower was surrounded by rebuilt buildings.
Construction of a new water tower was put as a high-priority task because it was a crucial aspect of Greensburg's recovery.[114] Professional Engineering Consultants (PEC) was tasked with designing the new tower, which was completed in 45days; construction was completed by Maguire Iron in a span of 172days.[115] The water tower was declared complete in May 2008, after having its exterior coated with approximately 165 U.S. gallons (620L) of Series 700HydroFlon, a protective thermosettingfluoropolymer designed for use on water towers.[116]
The Kiowa County Memorial Hospital was the only building that was an exception to the LEED platinum requirement, although the hospital later garnered an LEED Platinum certification.[106][107] In 2010, after planning to be rebuilt and being completed in March of the same year at a different location within Greensburg,[106][117] the Kiowa Couty Memorial hospital became the first in the United States to operate using carbon neutral energy.
Two 50-kilowatt wind turbines were installed on the site of the hospital to further reduce fossil fuel usage.[118] The new hospital opened in March 2010, at a cost of approximately $25million (2010USD).[119] The Kiowa County Memorial Hospital was the only building that was an exception to the LEED platinum requirement, although the hospital later garnered an LEED Platinum certification.[106][107] In 2012, the hospital became the first to use entrapped rainwater to run water-based utilities, such as toilets.[120] The rebuilt hospital is equipped with fifteen beds, two trauma rooms and other rooms included in typical hospitals,[121] while using renewable energy to remain functional as a care facility.[122]
Casualties
List of fatalities directly attributed to the tornado[123]
Twelve people were confirmed to have been killed by the tornado,[126] all of whom lived in Greensburg.[127] Ten of the fatalities occurred immediately during the tornado, and two others occurred later in hospitals as a result of tornadic injuries.[128] 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.[129][130] The twelfth and final person died from a separate head injury in September 2007as a result of the tornado;[131]
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.[132] The Pratt Regional Medical Center in Pratt received the most tornado patients of any other hospital in the area, with 59 people being transferred to the facility for treatment.[133] 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.[134][135]
The tornado and its aftermath have been featured in two television series: Greensburg, which documents the aftermath of the tornado and the miniseries Build It Bigger: Rebuilding Greensburg; the former series was created by actor Leonardo DiCaprio.[137] Depictions of the event are also present in several pieces of literature, including The Greening of Oz by author Robert Fraga.[138] In the book, Fraga writes "The reconstruction is nearly complete, and it's 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".[138]
↑ A "wedge" refers to the shape of strong, wide tornadoes. When a tornado is described as a "wedge", it is typically large, with sloping sides and may look like a low-hanging cloud that makes contact with the ground
↑ 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."
1 2 "Event Summaries". National Weather Service. Archived from the original on November 12, 2024. Retrieved November 12, 2024. May 4th, the day of the Greensburg tornado: 12reports of a tornado, 27reports of hail (largest 2.50inches)
↑ Davies, Jon (May 12, 2007). "The Greensburg Tornado Environment on 4 May 2007". Archived from the original on May 16, 2007. Retrieved November 13, 2024. The NAM/WRF forecast of CAPE for the evening of 4May was impressive (3500-4500J/kg) over western Oklahoma pointing into southwest Kansas ...
↑ "Severe Weather Topics". National Weather Service. Archived from the original on January 24, 2025. Retrieved February 6, 2025. CAPE or Convective Available Potential Energy is the amount of fuel available to a developing thunderstorm.
↑ Davies, Jon (May 12, 2007). "The Greensburg Tornado Environment on 4 May 2007". Archived from the original on May 16, 2007. Retrieved February 7, 2025. Precipitation forecasts ... also suggested that storms would develop through the evening in the TX/OK panhandle or southwest KS area along the dryline ...
↑ Lemon & Umschied 2008, p.7. "In the next 10 to 15 minutes, the storm developed two BWERs."
↑ Lemon & Umschied 2008, p.7. "These regions are not yet at TVS magnitude except for a few heights in the region that will become the GT."
↑ Tanamachi 2011, p.53. "Lemon & Umschied 2008 reported at least 22 separate tornadoes spawned from the Greensburg storm based on surveyed tornado damage tracks."
↑ Sommerfeld, Rachel (February 22, 2015). "May 4, 2007 tornado devastates Greensburg". KSN-TV. Retrieved February 8, 2025. NOAA forecasters in Dodge City issued a Tornado Warning 39minutes before wedge tornado hit the town.
↑ "Early twister warning probably saved lives". NBC News. May 7, 2007. Retrieved February 8, 2025– via The Associated Press. In a statement, the National Weather Service said that "forecasters in Dodge City were able to issue a Tornado Warning 39minutes before the 1.7mile wide wedge tornado hit the town.
↑ Newton, Ryan (May 4, 2017). "Greensburg victims relive the warning that saved their lives". KSN-TV. Retrieved February 8, 2025. At that point, we were just thinking what else can we do? What else can we say?" Freeman said ... The warnings convinced Jeff's family, and many others in Greensburg to take shelter.
↑ "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 2008from the National Weather Association.
↑ Lemon & Umschied 2008, p.7. "It was also during this period that these multiple updrafts, BWERs, and mesocyclones produced brief and short track tornadoes."
↑ Lemon & Umschied 2008, p.8. "The tornado gradually ... grew in size ... then becoming a broad truncated cone or “wedge” shaped tornado."
↑ "Stunning intensity of 2007 Kansas tornado examined". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved February 11, 2025. By then, a second large tornado was on the ground a few miles to the northeast. That second twister -- eventually dubbed the Trousdale tornado -- grew to more than two miles wide and EF-3 strength.
↑ Marshall et al., p.2. "However, the variability in EF-scale ratings was greater on the west side of the tornado track."
↑ "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.
↑ Marshall et al., p.4. "We found debarked trees adjacent to homes at all EF-scale levels ... the greatest number of debarked trees occurring near homes with EF-4ratings."
↑ Marshall et al., p.2. "We encountered 53 homes that slid off their brick foundations."
↑ Marshall et al., p.2. "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."
↑ Marshall et al., p.2. "As expected, the degree of damage to homes was more severe on the east side of the tornado track than on the west side."
↑ "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 2miles northwest of Greensburg as it dissipated.
↑ Lemon & Umschied 2008, p.13. "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."
1 2 "Top Ten KS Tornadoes". National Weather Service. Retrieved February 10, 2025. This monstrous vortex went down in history as the first tornado to be rated EF5on the new Enhanced Fujita Scale with windspeeds that were estimated at 205mph.
↑ "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.
1 2 Tanamachi 2011, p.81. "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."
↑ Lemon & Umschied 2008, p.8. "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."
↑ Lemon & Umschied 2008, p.8. "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."
↑ Marshall et al., p.1. "Approximately 95 percent of the town was destroyed including more than 500 homes and dozens of businesses."
↑ 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, it's amazing what has taken place since last May."
↑ 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."
↑ Morris, Frank (May 8, 2017). "10 Years After Devastating Tornado, Greensburg, Kansas, Struggles To Move Forward". KCUR. Archived from the original on July 12, 2024. Retrieved February 8, 2025. The town has a hard time attracting employers, because there's no place for new employees to live. People aren't building new places to live, because the town isn't generating jobs.
↑ Marshall et al., p.5. "The High School was located about one block east of the convergence line and experienced the strongest winds from the south through east."
↑ Marshall et al., p.5. "Walls in the top story of the main building and south wing were broadsided by the strongest winds and collapsed to the west."
↑ Marshall et al., p.6. "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."
1 2 Marshall et al., p.6. "Still, the degree of damage to the Elementary School yielded an EF-4 rating."
↑ Marshall et al., p.7. " They calculated a wind velocity of 66 ms^-1 to lift the beam."
↑ "The greening of a critical access hospital". HCD Magazine. July 31, 2008. 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.
↑ "Green Initiative & The Tornado". KCMH. Retrieved February 9, 2025. On May 21, 2007, the hospital reopened in a temporary tent hospital (Emeds unit) brought in by the Air National Guard, Topeka, Kansas.
↑ Sheldon et al. 2007, p.2.1. "No “tornado shelters” designed to resist the wind and debris associated with a tornado were identified during this effort."
↑ 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 ..."
↑ 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 200FEMA mobile homes arranged in neat rows on the outskirts of town ...
↑ 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 men were impressed to find it came furnished complete with linens, blankets, dishes and even cutlery.
↑ Paul et al. 2007, p.19. "Designating public buildings, such as school buildings and hospitals as public shelter, emergency managers provided temporary accommodations for the tornado victims of Greensburg."
↑ 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 100percent of the town's cleanup costs ...
↑ Hegeman, Roxana (September 7, 2007). "FEMA repairing its reputation in Greensburg". Lawrence Journal-World. Retrieved February 8, 2025. The agency so far has spent $7.6million in Greensburg for housing assistance, ... and almost $10million to help fix infrastructure.
↑ "2007 EF5 Tornado". City of Greensburg. Archived from the original on August 8, 2024. Retrieved November 12, 2024. President Bush visited Greensburg twice in the first year—initially five days after the tornado.
↑ "Bush tours town wiped away by tornado". NBC News. 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.
↑ 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 F5tornado on the evening of May 4, nearly 500Kansas National Guard Airmen and Soldiers were called up and reported for duty.
↑ FEMA 2007, p.9. "The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) activated the Long-Term Community Recovery (LTCR) program ..."
↑ "Greensburg, Kansas Recovery Plan". ICMA. January 1, 2010. Archived from the original on November 12, 2024. Retrieved November 12, 2024. Through intensive community engagement, the city has created a Long-Term Community Recovery Plan.
↑ FEMA 2007, p.33. "One of the greatest needs identified by Greensburg and Kiowa County residents was finding a way to return home."
↑ FEMA 2007, p.33. "The state and other disaster recovery partners have made rebuilding housing one of the highest priorities in Greensburg."
↑ FEMA 2007, p.49. "Prepare an Economic Development Strategy"
↑ 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."
1 2 3 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 2007tornado, Kiowa County Memorial Hospital comes back stronger than before with a LEED Platinum facility.
↑ 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 2007F5tornado ...
↑ "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.
↑ "Greensburg Water Tower Reconstruction"(PDF). Tenmec. Retrieved February 8, 2025. Construction of the new water tank was put on a fast track because it was critical to the city's recovery efforts.
↑ "Greensburg Water Tower Reconstruction"(PDF). Tenmec. Retrieved February 8, 2025. ... the new spheroid tank was designed in 45days by Professional Engineering Consultants, P.A. and constructed in 172days by Maguire Iron, Inc.
↑ "Greensburg Water Tower Reconstruction"(PDF). Tenmec. Retrieved February 8, 2025. followed by a finish coat of Series 700 HydroFlon, an advanced thermoset fluoropolymer designed especially for water tanks ... Approximately 165gallons of Tnemec protective coatings were required for the tower ...
↑ Shideler, Karen (March 12, 2010). "Greensburg hospital done". The Wichita Eagle. Retrieved February 8, 2025. Greensburg's $25million hospital is opening its doors to the public today ...
↑ "Kansas officer dies from twister injuries". The Seattle Times. May 9, 2007. 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.
↑ "Kansas Tornado Death Toll Rises". CBS News. May 8, 2007. 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.
↑ 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."
↑ 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 ..."
↑ 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."
↑ Ablah et al. 2013, p.92. "These 6 patients did not have tornado-related injuries and received care only for their pre-tornado conditions."
↑ 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."
↑ 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. In 2007, Discovery Channel reached out to Greensburg to film a TV series that would document the green reconstruction of the town ... environmental activist/actor Leonardo DiCaprio signed on to the project.
1 2 Quinn, Patrick (April 13, 2013). "After devastating tornado, town is reborn 'green'". USA Today. Retrieved February 11, 2025. ... most notably The Greening of Oz, by Robert Fraga ... "The reconstruction is nearly complete, and it's 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," Fraga says.
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