Greensburg

The basement is all that's left of the building that stood next to Greensburg's famous big well. Volunteers stepped up to the dirty job of sorting out what's trash and what they can salvage on Friday. "It's a monumental task we're doing so I'm just honored to be a part of it," says WenDee LaPant. LaPant is the Assistant Director for the Kansas Sampler Foundation. The group has been leading the effort to clean-up and restore the world's largest hand dug well. Dedication that is leaving the well's staff nearly speechless.

The tornado that struck Moore on Monday was a rare EF5, the highest rating the National Weather Service assigns in classifying the strength of tornadoes. It was the second of that magnitude to hit the community in 14 years. Some Kansans have been through a similar violent storm, and still have nightmares about that day. Families in Greensburg are reminded daily about an EF-5 tornado that destroyed their community six years ago. Siblings Carolyn and Jason Irvin said watching the images out of Oklahoma have been hard to watch.

by Chris Durden After months of uncertainty, Dillons decides to stay in Greensburg. But they won't be doing it alone. Come September, the Kwik Shop will be converted into a combination grocery and convenience store. The May 4th tornado leveled the old Dillons store. Both Kansas Senators released statements applauding the decision. "Dillons and Kwik Shop have gone above and beyond for the Greensburg community whether through fundraising or helping residents return to normal life," Senator Roberts said in his statement.

What's normally Greensburg's public works building, is temporarily a one-stop-shop to fuel efficiency. "You can see the green light flashing, that means that everything is working," explains Joe Mentlick. He's helping Highline Technical Innovations, based out of Arkansas, install free hydrogen boosters into city and school vehicles. Both the company and city are hoping to accomplish two things with the new equipment. "One, reducing fuel consumption, and two, make what's coming out of the tail pipe much better for the environment," said Highline CEO, Charlton Coats.

Press Release from Udall Community Historical Society: The Udall Community Historical Society is gearing up for our second planting of trees in Greensburg. Last fall 43 trees were planted, and now the Greensburg people are ready for another 75 plus trees. We could use your help. Bring your shovel and come along to Greensburg this spring, and let's plant some trees. The date is Saturday, April 12 th . Thanks to the generosity of so many nationwide, we have nearly reached our monetary goal, so donations are still very much appreciated.

It was what Greensburg was best known for until the tornado that decimated it. What's left of the structures around the Big Well--the world's biggest hand-dug well according to legend--is being knocked down to make room for a new and improved one. The well has been a tourist attraction ever since the city modernized its water system in the 1930s.  But the 2007 tornado left the site in ruin. Now, the city will begin construction of a new $3.2 million museum, gift shop and well rennovation.  Most of the money is coming from the federal government.

A school isn't a school without furniture.  This week, crews in Greensburg are moving furniture into the new Kiowa County School. The previous school was destroyed, like much of Greensburg, when an EF5 tornado hit the community in May of 2007.Since then, the district has been working out of a series of temporary trailers. "Pretty excited to see the spaces start to get filled up," explains Superintendent Darin Headrick. He and others were on hand Monday an Tuesday as the first semis full of furniture arrived.

They roll up looking like they're off to school. And while the groups of teenagers are learning lessons, they're here because they want to be, not because they have to be. "It's kind of fun, something to do during spring break. "One church group from Indiana is in town organizing books that have been donated to the city. One of hundreds of jobs available for the hundreds of volunteers who come to town each month. "It makes you feel good, like just that you can help everyone," says one volunteer. Volunteer coordinator Matt Deighton estimates thousand of volunteers have worked almost 60-thousand hours.

The EF-5 tornado killed 11 people as it blasted through Greensburg on May 4, 2007.  In a matter of moments 95 percent of the town was ripped to shreds. The survivors wondered if Greensburg was history. "If we built the town back the way it was before the disaster we were destined for the same future we were headed down," school superintendent Darin Headrick says.  "We were a typical rural community with a dying population, fewer businesses, young kids moving away to college and not moving back.

May 4 falls on a Friday this year. The last time it did was in 2007. That night, an EF-5 tornado leveled most of Greensburg. The storm killed 11 people in the town. Two more died in Pratt County. Five years later, Greensburg is remembering those killed. Friday afternoon, a headstone was dedicated to the victims outside the Big Well. Claude Hopkins, 79 Larry Hoskins, 51 Evelyn Kelly, 75 David Lyon, 48 Colleen Panzer, 77 Ron Rediger, 57 Harold Schmidt, 77 Sarah Tackett, 72 Beverly Volz, 52 Richard Fry, 62 Max McColm died in September from tornado-related injuries.