The city's power is supplied by ten 1.25 MW wind-turbines. With extra help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Greensburg residents developed a long-term plan for Greensburg. Greensburg is rebuilding as a 'green' town, with the help of Greensburg GreenTown, a non-profit organization created to help the residents learn about and implement the green living initiative. Īfter the tornado, the city council passed a resolution stating that all city buildings would be built to LEED - platinum standards, making it the first city in the nation to do so. While some rebuilding was done, the population by 2010 was about 50% of what it was in 2000, as the 2000 census found 1,574 residents, while only 777 were recorded in the 2010 census. The tornado took 10 lives in Greensburg and two more in neighboring towns. Bush both declared Kiowa County a disaster area, which opened up the affected areas for national and international aid.

Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius and President George W. The tornado lasted for a total of one hour and five minutes and caused $250 million in damages. Tornado sirens sounded in the city twenty minutes before the tornado struck, and a tornado emergency was issued, which likely saved many lives. This was the first tornado to be rated EF5 since the implementation of the Enhanced Fujita scale earlier that year and the first F5 or EF5 classification since May 3, 1999, when an F5 tornado ripped through Moore, Oklahoma, as part of the 1999 Oklahoma tornado outbreak. The National Weather Service estimated winds of the tornado to reach 205 mph (330 km/h). Ninety-five percent of the city was confirmed to be destroyed, with the other five percent being severely damaged. The tornado was estimated to be 1.7 miles (2.7 km) in width - wider than the city itself - and traveled for nearly 22 miles (35 km). CDT on May 4, 2007, during a deadly tornado outbreak, Greensburg was hit by an EF5 tornado. City center, twelve days after the tornado struck (2007)Īt 9:45 p.m.

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