A sobering experience

23rd August 2007

posted in geography |

Today as I drove home from Goodland, Kansas, back to Edmond, Oklahoma, I took a different route. Rather than take I-70 across Kansas to I-135 and I-35, at Hays I cut south on highway 183 so I could go through Greensburg, Kansas. As you may recall, on May 4th, a devastating category 5 tornado struck Greensburg and virtually wiped the entire town off the map. A search of YouTube this evening for the keywords “greensburg” and “tornado” brings up 174 different videos. This was a terrifying storm: Truly a nightmare for those in its path and those who knew people in its path. Given the destructive power of the storm, it is remarkable only 10 people were killed. The town was almost completely destroyed by the tornado(s).

Today I spent almost two hours in Greensburg, driving around, taking photos, and visiting with one man who is rebuilding the home of his 96 year old mother that amazingly survived the storm. I will be publishing a video podcast soon which includes his interview, as well as video footage I captured today in the town.

Words are inadequate to fully describe what I saw and felt, being in Greensburg. I took 96 photos which I have posted this evening to Flickr. It is shocking how completely devastating mother nature can be, and how quickly disaster can strike. I thought of many things walking around the ruins, and in some cases the new buildings, of Greensburg today. A primary thought was about FOUNDATIONS, for in many cases the foundation is all that remains of many homes.

The house of Harry’s 96 year old mother, who did survive the tornado, was sort of like the house made of bricks built by the third little pig, which couldn’t be blown down by the big bad wolf. According to Harry, who I interviewed, the construction methods used on his mother’s home were different than those used by other builders. The builder used more nails, and put in more supporting wood between the beams to make the supports stronger. The builder took more time during the construction, and it paid off. This is her house:

Hundreds of other homes were not so fortunate. Now, almost four months after the disaster, most of those homes have been hauled off, leaving behind a foundation, some rubble, and in some cases a big hole where the basement had been.

According to Harry, the tornado was reportedly 1.7 miles in diameter and had 4 additional tornados OUTSIDE the main funnel. Of the 900 families who lived in Greensburg prior to the disaster, only about a third have expressed a desire and plan to return and rebuild. FEMA remains there, along with the Mennonite Mission workers and some others. The entire scene was very surreal, reminding me of parts of Miami following a severe hurricane in 1993.

Count your blessings. I’m counting mine tonight.

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kansas, greensburg, tornado

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