Released: May 05, 2008

Part I: A Year Later, Survivors of Kansas’ Storm Offer Tips for Others

GREENSBURG, Kan. – While much has been written about the May 4, 2007 tornado that claimed 11 lives and destroyed nearly 95 percent of Greensburg, Kan., a year later, the small city remains newsworthy.

“No one would choose the hardship that has come to our community,” said Darin Headrick, USD 422 school superintendent, who, without a school building or any of the essentials normally associated with school or school activities, announced that the new school year would start on schedule – Aug. 15, 2007 – and saw that it did.

A positive, can-do attitude is essential to the rebuilding process, said Headrick, who noted that the community’s new hospital is being built near a highway and will be easily accessible to emergency vehicles, patients and their families.

The town had grown up around the old hospital, with traffic increasing and sometimes slowing emergency vehicles, said Headrick, who also is a community development volunteer.

“We have an opportunity to make some choices that aren’t available to other communities,” said Headrick. He noted that residents’ environmentally-friendly approach to the rebuilding process will benefit the community now and in the future.

Cassie Kirby, school secretary and school board clerk, and her husband Troy weathered the storm with their four-year-old daughter, Allison, in the basement of their home. The family lost its business, a pivot irrigation service center, as well as their home.

The couple worked to replace the business first, and now is building a new home.

“The excitement in building the home is tempered by the losses our community has suffered,” said Kirby, who with the exception of pictures of grown twins and their daughter and a purse she retrieved minutes before the storm struck, is starting over.

Pam Muntz, Kansas State University Research and Extension family and consumer science agent in Kiowa County and a Greensburg resident also lost her home and is starting over.

Muntz, whose grown daughter and grandchildren were at her home when the storm struck, focused on the children’s safety and later realized that she had forgotten to put on shoes before heading to the basement. Later, she would have to tiptoe through broken glass and debris to retrieve a pair of shoes.

Muntz also had taken medication for a grandchild who is diabetic to the shelter, but had no idea that she would need medication for several days, rather than for a few hours.

Like the Kirby family and others in the community, Muntz also is rebuilding during an already stressful time.

Residents whose homes were spared have not, however, been immune to stress. Muntz’ co-worker, Carmen Stauth, also a K-State Research and Extension agent serving Kiowa County, is among the few whose homes were spared. She is, however, among those who have taken in family members who had lost their homes.

After accounting for their families, both Extension agents went to work helping others, and now, with the first year after the storm behind them, offered suggestions to help others:

* Make – or take – time to organize vital information, including birth certificates, marriage license, passports, copies of other photo IDs (such as driver’s licenses), insurance policies and contact numbers to report a claim, titles to vehicles and other property, deeds, abstracts, medical providers’ names and telephone numbers, copies of insurance cards, a list of medications, and an up-to-date copy of your address book – and place the information in a water- and fireproof safe that can be secured to the floor. In Greensburg, many people found that such documents were either ruined or beginning to mold from rains following the tornado.

* Make a plan for communicating with your family and place of employment after the storm. Designating a meeting place isn’t a bad idea, either. In Greensburg, land lines and cell phone towers were both knocked out by the storm.

* Have a weather-alert radio with backup batteries in your home.

* Pay attention to the weather and be prepared – stay dressed, for example, rather than getting ready for bed. Since the storm struck Greensburg at 9:45 p.m., many in the community were already wearing pajamas with footwear that offered little protection from broken glass, remnants of building materials, torn metal, etc.

* Keep the basics such as a flashlight and lantern, blankets, first aid kit, bottled water to drink and non-perishable snacks in your storm cellar. If there are small children in the family, take a favorite blanket, diapers (if needed), stuffed animal or toy, coloring book, and crayons.

* Keep medications in a basket or other small container that can be easily picked up and taken to the shelter with you. An extra pair of glasses is a good idea.

* Back up a home computer frequently, and consider storing backed up materials with other emergency supplies in the storm shelter.

* Gather family photos in a basket or box, if time allows. Consider storing duplicates in a safe, bank safety-deposit box, or with family or friends who live elsewhere prior to storm season.

* If in the habit of removing jewelry such as a wedding or mother’s ring during household or other chores, place the jewelry in a spot where it can easily be retrieved before heading off to a storm shelter.

“Finding such small items among household debris is unlikely,” said Muntz, who is now in her new home.

As Kirby and her family make plans to move into their new home this summer, she paused to reflect, saying: “I’m not planning to get too attached to the house. In Greensburg, we know the value of family, friends – and neighbors and are not focusing on things.”


 

Part II: K-State Safety Specialist: “Prepare to Weather Storm Safely.”

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Weather forecasting and warning systems have improved significantly since a tornado roared through Udall, Kan., May 25, 1955, killing 80, including many who were unaware that a deadly storm approached, said Kansas State University professor Mike Bradshaw.

Bradshaw, who is retiring this year after more than 30 years as the K-State Research and Extension health and safety specialist, urges preparation prior to storm season.

“Safety steps need not be time-consuming or expensive,” said Bradshaw, who suggests covering the basics:

* Look around your home or apartment and decide where you can – or should – go in case of a severe storm, fire, flood, power outage or other emergency.

* Discuss – and decide – where to meet, if storm sirens should sound. Include in the discussion what to do if children are on their way home from school or at a friend’s house or if parents are on the way home from work. While such family discussions are important, singles and others who live alone also should work out a system with friends and neighbors to account for each other, if a storm should strike.

* Invest in a battery-operated radio and flashlight, and an extra set of batteries.

* Put together a three-day emergency kit with enough supplies for each person in your household: allow 1 gallon of water per person per day; nonperishable food such as canned, cooked meats or fish, canned vegetables, canned or dried fruits, nonfat dried milk, and canned or bottled fruit and vegetable juices, crackers and cereal bars. Rotate emergency supplies to prevent foods from becoming outdated, and remember to include a manual can opener, utensils, tableware, paper plates, napkins, towels and toilet paper.

* First-aid kit.

* Prescription medications for 72 hours.

* Extra set of eye glasses, perhaps the pair most recently replaced.

* Blankets, sleeping bags and a tent (if the family happens to have one).

* Change of clothes for each person, including shoes or boots, socks, coat, jacket or rain poncho.

* Coffee can or other re-sealable metal container with candles and matches.

* Deck of cards and board games, and a few children’s toys. Such items as coloring books can reduce stress and anxiety.

* A cell phone, if available, address book and phone book.

* List of emergency contacts, cash, copies of insurance policies, household inventory and immunization records.

Taking pictures of each room in your home can be helpful in identifying how the home looked before a disaster. Store photos in a safe place, with other essential documents.

Stashing a camera – or making sure that you take it with you during an emergency – also can be helpful in documenting emergencies, Bradshaw said.

More information on personal safety and preparing for and recovering from disasters is available at local and district K-State Research and Extension offices; on its Extension Web site: www.oznet.ksu.edu; on the Extension Disaster Education Network site: http://eden.lsu.edu/; and U.S. Department of Homeland Security: www.dhs.gov/.

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K-State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well-being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K-State campus, Manhattan.

Story by:
Nancy Peterson
nancyp@oznet.ksu.edu
K-State Research& Extension News