Wow.
I’m from Greensburg, Ks. and it WAS a town of approx 1500. My father was living there, but since 95% of the town was destroyed, he’s probably not going to return. The national weather service has rated it as 1.4 miles wide, and the first ever EF-5. Greensburg had been formerly known as the home of the largest hand dug well, and I wish it had stayed that way instead of this. My dad says there are about 12-15 structures remaining including Grain elevator (probably would withstand a small nuke), bar H tavern (only bar in town), Kansan Inn (or whatever the name is now), and a few homes on the far East side of town. The high school had been a 3 story building, but the top floor is completly gone and 2nd floor has extensive damage. The school superintendant has announced that the rest of the school year is cancelled. Graduation will not take place either.
I lived in this small town from 1970 untill 1996, and it took watching a video clip a dozen or so times before I recognized the remains of my neighbors house, and the rubble that was my fathers house. I could regognize the remains of my church (First baptist), but not much else.
The fact that only 9 people died there (as of last report) is absolutely amazing. Greensburg was incorporated in 1886, and has had very few tornado strikes previously. Last one I’m aware of was around 1982 or so, two much weaker ones did some light damage. That’s not a bad record for a town in the middle of tornado ally. It has been declared a state disaster area, and probably a federal one also by now.
Looting, theft, rape, murder. Any of those happen here afterwords? Nope, people evacuated peacefully. KEMA responded that night. Where’s FEMA? No idea, no response from them yet (supposedly on the way, but not here yet).The Governer, and state reps have been there already. Mr Bush said a few words, but did he come look at the disaster area? No, of course not.