At 9:15 p.m. CDT on May 4 2007, Greensburg Kansas was hit by an EF5 tornado. The tornado was estimated to be 1.7 miles (2.7 km) in width and traveled for nearly 22 miles (35 km). Ninety-five percent of the city was confirmed to be destroyed, with the other five percent being severely damaged.The National Weather Service estimated winds of the tornado to reach 205 mph (330 km/h). This was the first tornado to be rated EF5 since the update of the Fujita scale. The tornado had caused EF5 damage to at least one well-built home in Greensburg and also the is the first "5" classification since May 3,1999, when an F5 tornado ripped through Moore Oklahoma as part of the 1999 Oklahoma tornado outbreak. Greensburg tornado sirens sounded the in the city twenty minutes before the tornado struck, and a tornado emergency was issued,which undoubtedly saved many lives. Sadly nine to eleven people died. Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius and President George W. Bush both declared Kiowa County a disaster area, which opened up the affected areas for national and international aid.

Green City
Ater the tornado, the city council passed a reasolation starting that all city buildings would be built to LEED- platinum standards, making it the first city tin the nation to do so. Greensburg is rebuilding as a "green" town, with the help of Greensburg Greens Town, a non-profit organization created to help residents learn about implement the green living initative.


To watch Videos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6U7OBA2fUL

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