Greensburg takes another step forward
9:21 p.m. Friday, October 10, 2008
"We get to renew the message our ancestors gave to us, and that's we know what it means to be hard pressed, but not crushed; to be perplexed, but not in despair, to be struck down but not destroyed," Kansas House minority leader Rep. Dennis McKinney said.
The view from a Black Hawk helicopter high above Greensburg shows the town is not destroyed, but is slowly coming back together.
"This is a real testament to your persistence, our persistence and months of hard planning," Greensburg mayor Bob Dickson said.
And the next step of that planning phase is coming to life.
The community celebrated the ground breaking for the city's new City Hall.
It's designed to use solar energy, harvest rain water and maximize natural daylight.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture handed over a $900,000 check to finish the project.
"You are an absolute example to the rest of the nation of people that get knocked down, you get up again and no one's going to keep you down," Kansas Adjutant General Tod Bunting said.
Community members knew from the beginning they wanted to rebuild.
But doing it green is costing millions of dollars, and it's a price tag Mitzi Hesser says is worth it...
"I never thought I'd be a part of something that was going to be a footprint for generations to come," Greensburg resident Mitzi Hesser said.
Brick by brick, road by road, this small community knows the rebuilding process is setting a big example for the nation to follow.
And though signs of the May 4, 2007 tornado remain, this community is keeping the faith as the days and months go by.
"We need to remember, this is the key in this whole thing. Don't become impatient. Celebrate our success. We've done some great things in this community and we're going to do even better things," Dickson said.
"It's just always such a phenomenal feeling to know that people still care about us and are still giving us some time and effort to help us and that's just always such an emotional high for all of us," Hesser said.
Funding will also include $1.18 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Other money is coming from insurance, the state and the city.
City Hall is expected to be finished by May of 2009.
Greensburg Tornado Devastation
- Husband, tornado survivor recounts last moments with childhood sweetheart (May 8, 2007)
- Colossal funnel cloud that struck Greensburg caught on tape (May 8, 2007)
- Two more bodies found in Greensburg (May 7, 2007)
- Survivor found in aftermath of Greensburg tornado (May 7, 2007)
- Federal disaster declaration granted for Greensburg (May 6, 2007)
- Second round of storms claims tenth victim over weekend (May 6, 2007)
- Rescuers still recovering tornado survivors (May 9, 2007)
- Rescuers still recovering tornado victims (May 5, 2007)
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