Collegio Online

Issue date: 5/10/07 Section: Front Page

Media Credit: AP An unidentified search and rescue team member checks an overturned vehicle in Greensburg, Kan., Tuesday, May 8, 2007. A 1.7-mile-wide Category F-5 enhanced tornado, with wind estimated at 205 mph, destroyed about 95 percent of this farming town on Friday, claiming at least 10 deaths in Greensburg. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)

Media Credit: AP Judy Smith hugs her cat Pawsh after finding her under her destroyed home in Greensburg, Kan. Tuesday, May 8, 2007. Smith's home was destroyed along with most of the rest of the community of 1,400 after an F-5 tornado passed through the town last Friday. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Former Greensburg native Jennifer Freeman first heard about the tornado that destroyed her hometown an hour after it hit. She says she was in a state of disbelief.
"We'd never had a storm like that when I was living there," Freeman, senior in psychology, said. "There were some small ones. Once, we had one that hit a co-op on Main Street, but it was nothing in comparison."
Freeman's father, stepmother and sister all lived in Greensburg when the storm hit. Freeman says her father's house was destroyed, but her stepmother's partly stands.
"It's got a couple of walls standing, but it started caving in when they went back to look through the debris," Freeman said.
Amy VanWinkle's great aunt also lost her home in the disaster.
"I found out about (the tornado) on the news," VanWinkle, senior in communication, said. "I have a lot of family in the area, so my initial concern was for them."
VanWinkle's other relatives were fine, but her great-aunt's home was nearly flattened.
"She has one wall still standing, the wall where her bathtub is," VanWinkle said. "She and her son went to a neighbor's house and then to a shelter."
Andy Huyett, a building inspector for the city of Pittsburg, went to Greensburg on Saturday as a volunteer for Heart of America, a professional organization of code, construction and building inspectors.
"In a nutshell, the town was just a total loss," Huyett said. "Very few structures can be rebuilt. The county courthouse and a couple of houses were capable of repairing, but other than that, there was nothing."
Freeman's father and stepmother are staying with a son in Wichita, and her sister is staying in Hutchinson.
"Right now, I don't think it's even crossed their mind what their future plans should be," Freeman said.

What if?

If a tornado were to strike locally, Allan Gill, city manager, says Pittsburg has a plan in place.
"If a disaster is apparent, the first thing we do is pre-position key personnel in various places," he said.
Gill says the city's response in the event of a natural disaster is the same as it would be for any other crisis.
"First we clear the streets, then the police and fire departments are contacted," Gill said. "Afterwards, we have building inspectors assess the structure. The Red Cross and Salvation Army offer shelter to people who have lost their homes."
If the town runs out of resources, Gill says the county is next on the chain of contact.
"We call the county if we need more," Gill said. "We have an emergency purchase procedure through the county. If the county runs out of resources, they call the state coordinator, and then, if needed, they call the National Guard."
While the plans for managing a crisis are written down, they aren't available to the public, due to Homeland Security laws. The department is also issuing required training to city officials for crisis management.
"Various levels of command need to complete certain levels of training," Gill said. "It's a matter of federal and local agencies working together."
Gill says some of the training programs are available online, and that firemen and police officers are currently undergoing them.
The emergency system was last exercised in 2003 when the town of Franklin was struck by a tornado.
"Our personnel were watching from the sidelines on our radar screens," Gill said. "We knew what was happening and we knew it wasn't good."
After the storm, the county set up a command post and the city sent fire crews.
"There were groups coming in from all over the county, and the county told the crews where to go," Gill said.

Relief efforts

Some local relief efforts have already been organized, but many are in the planning stages.
"We're still working on organizing an aid effort," Gill said. "The League of Kansas Municipalities is setting up a fund, telling people what's needed, like equipment and vehicles."
Kim Carlson, Pittsburg State University marketing director, has also been doing what she can to see what resources PSU can provide.
"I had asked around for information on what people needed there," Kim Carlson, PSU marketing director, said. "I had been thinking about asking for clothes, but what they really need in Greensburg is money. I sent out a bulk e-mail with information on donating."
Another effort to help the victims is taking place today at Pizza Huts across Kansas. The restaurants will be donating 20 percent of their proceeds to Greensburg relief.

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