Posted on 05/07/2007 10:20:42 AM PDT by Huntress
GREENSBURG, Kan. (AP) - Searchers found a person alive in the rubble that was once Greensburg two days after a powerful tornado largely obliterated the town. Officials announced the rescue Monday as residents began the grim return to their splintered homes.
The survivor was found late Sunday, providing hope for other discoveries, said Kansas Highway Patrol spokesman Ron Knoefel. He did not provide other details.
The tornado, part of a weekend of violent storms across the Plains, claimed at least eight lives in the town of 1,500, putting the statewide death toll from the storms at 10.
Little remained standing in Greensburg, but the grain elevator. The F-5 tornado demolished every business on the main street. Churches lost their steeples, trees were stripped of their branches and neighborhoods were flattened. Officials estimate as much as 95 percent of the town was destroyed.
The tornado's wind was estimated to have reached 205 mph as it carved a track 1.7 miles wide and 22 miles long.
The search for survivors or victims had been complicated by the extent of the damage.
"Some of this rubble is 20, 30 feet deep," Maj. Gen. Todd Bunting, the state's adjutant general, told CNN on Monday morning.
R. David Paulison, the Federal Emergency Management Agency director, planned to tour the devastation later Monday for the first time since the tornado hit Friday night. President Bush had already declared parts of Kansas a disaster area, freeing up federal money to aid the recovery.
Evacuated residents waiting to get back into Greensburg waited in a line of vehicles nearly 2 miles long outside city limits Monday as police checked identification. Utility repair crews arriving from other cities added to the traffic jam. Police reminded residents they would have to leave again by 6 p.m.
Near downtown, insurance agent Scott Spark, a 13-year resident of Greensburg, hauled papers out of his wrecked office. He had already been to his destroyed home.
"I could probably have salvaged some more stuff if I had been able to get back, but I understand how it is," he said of the restrictions. "I mean, they were still having tornadoes last night. I understand they want everybody to be safe."
The storm system that swept south-central Kansas also spawned tornadoes in Illinois, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Nebraska.
Eleven-year-old Tyler McIntosh found a new friend while collecting things in his home, in Greensburg, Kan., Sunday, May 6, 2007. Rescue workers dug through piles of rubble Sunday searching for anyone who might have been trapped by Friday's tornado that obliterated this south-central Kansas town, while officials began talking about rebuilding. (AP Photo/The Wichita Eagle, Fernando Salazar)
Ping to awesome kitty picture!
That didn't stop Governor Sibelius from doing her Blank-Oh imitation and blaming Bush.
Yep - I'm not getting up off my wallet for this one. If I could, I'd take the Katrina donation back too.
A small ray of sunshine in a very sad time.
I’m so furious that Sebilius is trying to make herself into Blanco and blame Bush!!! The people who live in SW KS are conservative, Republican patriots. Any agency within 300 miles of this disaster is going to lend aid. Just because there are National Guard in Iraq does not mean that these folks won’t rebuild like they did in Udall and Moore, OK. These people are descended from people who built the soddies for crying out loud!!
You said it. The "Wasssssup?" expression on that kitten's face is priceless.
In the olden days, looters were to be shot on the spot.
Too bad, we've become such a "forgiving" society (forgiving for evil parasites preying on those who have lost most everything that they own and even family members., that is.)
So adorable. Looks like he’s trying to tell us something......
Aww, what a little fuzzy baby. :)
Given that it has a collar on, and that under the circumstances it seems unlikely that the kid who found the kitty would already have gone out and bought it a collar, I’d guess this kitty had a local owner and that it will get back to that owner soon. Can you imagine living through having your whole town blown away, and then getting your kitty back unharmed?
No doubt you’re right about the kitty having an owner already, but I’d have an awful hard time taking it away from the boy if it comforts him. Might have to check with his parents to make sure they’re OK with that first, LOL.
“Screw shot, looters will be EATEN!”
}:-)4
From what I’m hearing, she was out of state and Pat Roberts had to step in to take leadership. She’s now trying to cover for that by blaming the president. It also doesn’t hurt that she gets to play up to the national Democrats for her future purposes.
Here’s a press release from the National Guard.
National Guard Responds to Kansas Tornado
By Sgt. Sara Wood, USA
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, May 7, 2007 – More than 300 members of the Kansas National Guard have been activated in response to a powerful tornado that almost destroyed the town of Greensburg, Kan., May 4.
Guard members are assisting in search-and-rescue efforts in the wake of the tornado, which was classified as an F-5, the highest rating given by the National Weather Service.
The tornado wiped out much of the small town, knocking out power, water, natural gas and communications. To date, 10 deaths and more than 100 injuries have been reported.
The Kansas National Guard’s 278th Sustainment Brigade has established a joint task force near the incident site. In addition to search-and-rescue efforts, the troops are working on power generation, logistical support, debris clearing, support to law enforcement, supporting establishment of shelters and distribution of food and water.
Currently, the Kansas National Guard has 88 percent of its forces available, 60 percent of its Army Guard dual-use equipment on hand, and more than 85 percent of its Air Guard equipment on hand, said Randal Noller, public affairs officer for the National Guard Bureau. Under the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, which is a national partnership agreement that allows state-to-state assistance during governor or federally declared emergencies, Kansas has more than 400,000 Guardsmen available to it, he pointed out. However, Kansas has not yet requested assistance from other states.
The National Guard Bureau has offered liaison, operational, communications, contracting, search-and-rescue, public affairs and community relations support, and is prepared to support the governor in any way possible, Noller said.
What a cutie!
I heard from my friends in Kansas today, all was fine at their house. They spent the night in the basement, listening to sirens, but no tornado touched down in their parts.
Those who were not so lucky continue to be in my thoughts.
Just like the humble thank God for their blessings, the liberals damn conservatives for any political advantage.
A truly living miracle found in the ruins.
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