The wind that took Greensburg away came in a wedge tornado nearly a mile and a half wide. Ninety-five percent of Greensburg took off with it.
Greensburg has at least eight dead so far. A ninth person was killed in Stafford County. As is usual when a wedge tornado rolls through wooden dwellings, some of the dead were found some distance from the torn foundations of their homes. [...]
Some townspeople survived by huddling in bathtubs, or in cold convenience store coolers, or by lying flat on the floorboards of their cars, or by crouching in musty-smelling basements. One survivor, Julie Harshey, hung on to her doorknob as the wind took her off her feet; she watched dishes fly out of her cupboards.
The American Red Cross is on the scene. You can donate to their National Disaster Relief Fund online or by mailing a check to American Red Cross, P. O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. (via br)
Update: A reader asks: "Do you know of anyone who is collecting used clothing for the people of Greensburg?" If you know the answer, please leave the information in comments. Thanks.
That's scary. I saw similar destruction years ago when a large tornado cut through a nearby town of about 30,000. Everything in the storm's path was just flat, like a pasture covered with construction waste. Many of those who didn't suffer physical wounds carried emotional scars for years afterwards.
No way I'd live in the Plains.
Next Of Kin Registry (NOKR) National NEWS USA
Saturday, May 05, 2007
States of Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Illinois and South Dakota USA
Several Tornados have caused catastrophic damage, injuries, and loss of life in multiple states
NOKR is asking anyone that may have a missing or potentially injured family member due to the wave of tornadoes in Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Illinois or South Dakota to register this person with the Next of Kin Registry.
Register at: http://nokr.org
The NOKR organization has initiated contact with Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Illinois and South Dakota State Emergency Management officials to offer any assistance possible to help reunify individuals and families displaced by these tragic events. We send our prayers out to the families and friends struck by these tragic events.
About:
The Next Of Kin Registry (NOKR) was established as a FREE tool for daily emergencies and national disasters. NOKR is an emergency contact system to help if you or your family member is missing, injured or deceased. NOKR provides the public a free proactive service to store emergency contacts, next of kin and vital medical information that would be critical to emergency response agencies. Stored information is only accessible via a secure area that is only accessible by emergency public trust agencies that have registered with NOKR.
NOKR encourages every township, county, municipality, city, state and nation to take ownership of the NOKR. This resource belongs to you, your citizens and to your emergency agencies. Take the NOKR registration forms and add your own identifying symbols.
NOKR is a humanitarian organization. As part of our mission to society NOKR has created a trusted safeguarding system for all personal emergency contacts worldwide. NOKR does not own the information we store, this information belongs to the registrants and is made available securely to registered emergency agencies during times of urgent need.
NOKR is a non-partisan; non-profit 501(c)(3) dedicated to bridging rapid emergency contact information. NOKR was established in January 2004, for daily emergency situations.
If you do not specify Greensburg, Kansas Diaster RELIEF on your check to the RED CROSS the money will NOT GO TO THESE VICTIMS.
THE RED CROSS will put the money in a Diaster Relief Fund, but not dispurse the money to the people who need it the most.
I have helped victims of every natural disaster for the last ten years, I do not accept money from anyone only food, blankets, clothing, personal hygene items, please, please, please remember if you donate to the Red Cross unless you earmark the money for the Greensburg, Kansas Victims they will never ever see a dime.
I found this out by calling the Red Cross in DC and having them explain this to me.
Well, considering the need in Greensburg, I think they may see a *dime* or maybe even a dollar.
You are correct that unless contributors specify an area, the money donated to the Disaster Fund may be used in support of any disaster. My understanding is that events like this one generate a lot of donations, and if they are unspecified, the Red Cross may allot them to ongoing work at the site of Hurricane Katrina, for example (a disaster for which probably no money is now coming in).
So yes, absolutely note that you'd like the money to go to Greensburg if that's important to you.
do you know of anyone who is collecting used clothing for the people of Greensburg? Thanks.
Several churches in Pratt, KS are collecting clothing items, non-perishable food, etc. I believe the Church of Christ is helping spearhead some of the efforts. Donations of money can actually be sent specifically to the Pratt Chapter of the American Red Cross earmarked for the Greensburg tornado relief.
On May 3, 1999, an F5 tornado went through Oklahoma, killing 40 people. My daughter's home was totally destroyed, and her husband was one of the fatalities. I will never forget the feeling of total devestation felt by her and her three children. The Red Cross was less than helpful to her---they kept telling her that she was "so much better off" than others hit by the storm because she had home owner's insurance. Anyone who can tell a young woman who has just been widowed and left homeless with three children that insurance coverage makes her better off than others has no compassion and should not be allowed to serve in a disaster area. (And, as an added insult, she got a card from the Red Cross addressed to her dead husband several months later, asking how well the Red Cross had served him during the disaster.) I vowed at that time to never give a dime to the Red Cross, but I would like to be able to give a few dollars directly to one of the victems or to a local church or community group who is assisting with the relief efforts. Can anyone provide me with a name and address of someone local to whom I could send a donation?
Yes I do know someone who is accepting the donations. I am a preschool teacher at Haviland and have several students from Greensburg. If anyone would like to send donations I will be glad to put them in the collection for the people of Greensburg. You can email me at renlambert@havilandtelco.com.
Thanks for caring about the people of Greensburg.
My mother and I were collecting clothing from our family and some of our neighbors. We were not sure as to where we should send the clothing. We wanted to give the clothing to the victims of this Tornado in Greensburg, Kansas. If anyone knows who to send the clothing to, or who to contact, please let me know, we would really appreciate that so the clothing and donations can make it to the victims in Kansas. Thank you.
If the world will just be patient and quiet they will obviously see the resolve of the western Kansan. There will be NO HOMELESS because these people are not beggers and they will be taken in by everyone in the surrounding communities.
I am sure these folks will teach all of us what it takes to have dedicated resolve.
Bob Martin
I was there with the Kansas Army National Guard, my father reminded me of the Udall, Kansas Tornado in 1955, that is what the photos I sent to my father told him.
I feel really sorry for the people who lost their lives, family, and/or posesions. It really makes you see how lucky you are.
The South Central Community Foundation has set up a fund that the Greensburg school as well as community health services and community development will benefit from. The fund is the Greensburg Future Fund and donations can be sent and the money will directly help the people of Greensburg. More info is available at www.southcentralcommunityfoundation.com or call Denise Unruh at 620-672-7929.
In the Spring of '06 I went on my first tornado chase expedition. I happened upon a week of gorgeous weather and decided to drive around and meet the people of Kansas. I stayed at the Green Acres Bed and Breakfast, across the street from the Big Well. I met the Haney's and I shared my desire to storm chase....
In the Summer of '07, with my tail between my legs, I visited the remains of this delightful town. I had never seen the damage of a tornado before. I walked the area near the Big Well and couldn't find any signs of the town I knew.
I did see, out of the corner of my, I small sunflower pushing its way out of the rubble. I took a picture of this sunflower and was moved by its symbolism.
I continue to be fascinated by extreme weather, but will never ever forget the destruction it leaves in its path.
I wish the people of Greensburg the best and hope to see a sea of sunflowers when I return.