Weekly Reader | Lead Story

Place your cursor over the slideshow for captions.

he people of Kansas understand tornados. After all, the most famous tornado in history touched down there and swept a little girl away to the Land of Oz. But that was make-believe. The giant tornado that struck Greensburg, Kansas, on May 4 was all too real.
The massive windstorm flattened almost the entire town. The tornado was 1.7 miles wide and carved a path of destruction 22 miles long. Ninety percent of the town's buildings were destroyed, and 12 people were killed in Greensburg and the surrounding towns.

Now the people of Greensburg face tough challenges for the future. Before the tornado struck, there were fewer than 2,000 residents in the town. After the disaster, many townspeople moved away. Many of the remaining residents are living in temporary shelters provided by the Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA). The local government is working to restore basic services, such as water and electricity. However, no one knows if the Greensburg residents who left will ever return. "We're not sure of anything right now," said Greensburg resident Omero Carillo. His home was destroyed in the storm.

Greensburg mayor Lonnie McCollum is optimistic about rebuilding the town. Even with the town's buildings and trees flattened, the mayor said, "I don't see this mess. I see what it's going to be. Who wouldn't want to live in a brand-new town?"

Digging Out and Helping Out

Before Greensburg can be rebuilt, it has to dig out of the debris from the storm. Charities and businesses have come together to send help to the area. More than 700 volunteers from the American Red Cross, for example, have poured into Greensburg to help give out supplies, fresh water, and food.

Think About It!

How might some residents see this disaster as an opportunity? Imagine you lived in Greensburg. Which building would you decide to rebuild first, and why?

In addition, President George W. Bush pledged to send government money to help the town. "While there was a dark day in the past, brighter days are ahead," Bush told reporters during a visit to Greensburg. He also spoke about the importance of seeking safe shelter underground during a tornado. "Fortunately, a lot of folks had basements here in this part of the world and lived to see another day," he said.

Tornado safety is especially important the large area of the United States called Tornado Alley. It is a region that includes parts of Kansas, Nebraska, Texas, Ohio, and Iowa. The climate conditions in those parts of the country can produce supercell thunderstorms, which can lead to tornadoes.

Tornado Alley

For more information on the tornado and to find out how you can support relief efforts, visit the American Red Cross web site.
Read more about tornadoes and tornado safety at the Storm Prediction Center.
Read More about tornado trends and see the first known photograph of a tornado at the National Weather service.

Check out this online Geography game!

Back to Top

Add to del.icio.us

Subscribe Now