Tornadoes

May 22, 2007 -- The President today declared a major disaster exists in the State of South Dakota and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding beginning on May 4, 2007, and continuing.

The President's action makes Federal funding available to affected individuals in the counties of Beadle, Brown, Clark, Davison, Hanson, Hutchinson, Miner, Sanborn, Spink, and Yankton.    » read more »

Sebelius, Roberts & Moran announce successful Commerce request

May 17, 2007 -- The U.S. Department of Labor has approved a $20 million grant request from the Kansas Department of Commerce to employ Greensburg citizens for cleanup efforts, Governor Kathleen Sebelius, Senator Pat Roberts and Congressman Jerry Moran announced today. According to the Department of Labor, there will be an initial release of $12 million.    » read more »

Residents who lost jobs as a result of storm to receive help sooner

May 11, 2007 -- The complete destruction of the business district in Greensburg has left many residents without a source of income, and while they are eligible for unemployment benefits, the law currently requires a wait of one week before receiving those benefits.

A law taking effect July 1 eliminates that wait for workers who are part of a mass layoff, but to speed assistance to storm victims, Governor Kathleen Sebelius today signed an executive order eliminating the wait for residents of the disaster area.    » read more »

May 11, 2007 -- DES MOINES – Iowa Governor Chet Culver today has issued an emergency proclamation suspending weight limits on Iowa’s highways to assist in recovery efforts following last weekend’s severe weather in Kansas. The proclamation eases weight restrictions on semi-trailers who are delivering supplies to affected parts of Kansas.

Governor Culver issued today’s proclamation following a request from Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius.    » read more »

Greensburg, Kan. (5/14/2007) - In the first morning after a deadly tornado leveled Greensburg on the night of May 4, around 50 Kansas National Guard troops had already arrived at ground zero to provide security and aid. By the second day the number of troops had doubled, and by the third day the number had doubled again. On the fourth day, over 500 Kansas Guard Soldiers and Airmen were at the scene assisting with recovery efforts.    » read more »

Major General Melvyn S. Montano, U.S. Air Force (Ret.), a former adjutant general of the New Mexico National Guard, delivers the Democratic radio address. During the address, General Montano highlights the fact that the war in Iraq has stretched National Guard resources to a breaking point.    » read more »

5/11/2007 - GREENSBURG, Kan. (AFNEWS) -- It's hard to describe the immensity of the destruction in Greensburg, Kan.

State and FEMA officials say 95 percent of the town is destroyed; gone as well are 961 homes, and 136 businesses have major damage.

Standing in the center of town and looking in all directions is an endless scene of disaster: houses ripped apart, vehicles crushed, garbage strewn everywhere and trees -- those left standing -- are stripped of all but their main limbs.    » read more »

Storm Damage Reports

May 10, 2007 -- The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM) continues to receive damage reports related to the flooding, severe storms and tornadoes that have moved through the state since Friday, May 4. The State Emergency Operations Center remains activated to assist local officials and OEM personnel are in contact with local emergency managers whose jurisdictions remain affected by the storms.    » read more »

Vehicles being transported today

May 10, 2007 -- Many vehicles owned by public agencies in Greensburg were destroyed by the tornado. To replace these vehicles, Kansas Surplus Property has sold 21 cars, trucks, and vans to the City of Greensburg for $1 each. The vehicles sold included 11 utility and 4x4 pickup trucks, 5 passenger and cargo vans, and 5 passenger cars. All vehicles were high mileage vehicles turned into state surplus by agencies who replaced them with new purchases.    » read more »

May 9, 2007 -- THE PRESIDENT: I bring the prayers and concerns of the people of this country to this town of Greensburg, Kansas. A lot of us have seen the pictures about what happened here and pictures don't do it justice. There is a lot of destruction. Fortunately, a lot of folks had basements here in this part of the world and lived to see another day. Unfortunately, too many died, and we offer our prayers and condolences to those who died.    » read more »

GREENSBURG, Kan., May 9, 2007 – Within four hours of the deadly tornado that struck this town under the cloak of darkness, Kansas National Guard servicemembers were called to duty to bring relief to their devastated neighbors.

Before the sun rose May 5 to allow responders to clearly see the extent of damage, 15 security forces personnel from the Kansas Air National Guard in Wichita were on the scene, providing law enforcement assistance to local authorities.    » read more »

Emergency Management agencies prepare to rebuild Greensburg

(5/9/2007) - Residents of Greensburg are preparing for a visit from President George W. Bush on Wednesday, May 9. The President signed a federal disaster declaration for Kiowa County on May 6 at the request of Governor Kathleen Sebelius.

At the same time, local, state, and federal officials in Kiowa County are developing short-term and long-term plans to recover from the May 5 tornado and rebuild the town of Greensburg.    » read more »

Order suspends weight and size restrictions on vehicles

May 9, 2007 -- Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius has signed the fourth executive order expediting relief efforts for communities devastated by recent storms.

“The response of the public and private sector to help the people of Greensburg and surrounding counties has been incredible and we want to make sure there aren’t any barriers to the swift delivery of aid and rebuilding supplies,” Sebelius said.    » read more »

May 6, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), R. David Paulison, announced today that he will personally visit the disaster-affected area of Greensburg, Kan.

Paulison departs early Monday morning, May 7, arriving in Greensburg at approximately 11:30 a.m. local time. Also joining the administrator are Governor Kathleen Sebelius, Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS), and Congressmen Jerry Moran (R-1st) and Todd Tiahrt (R-4th).    » read more »

May 6, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. -- As state and local first responders, volunteers and search and rescue crews arrived on scene to sort through the devastation of the May 4 severe storms and deadly tornadoes, the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) was deploying critical emergency equipment, food supplies and disaster assistance personnel to support the recovery effort in Kansas. Local and state officials were able to conduct emergency operations in a FEMA Mobile Emergency Operations Vehicle that arrived yesterday in Greensburg, Kansas.    » read more »