(meteorobs) Re: OT Greensburg, Kansas

Tue May 8 13:45:04 EDT 2007

Thanks for the post.

Hello everyone,

I am currently working on a joint effort fund raiser, which will include a 
meteorite raffle, please e-mail for details.

The following I wrote last last night to the Meteorite Central mailing list, 
I know some of you are members, so I apologize for the repost if you fall in 
that catagory.

I am tired....it is past 3:30 a.m., and I have yet to take in everything
from the last day, but as you know the saying "Time and tide waits on no
man."

In case the hopefully linked photos do not seem work....due to length, you
can check out the images in my photobucket gallery.

http://s148.photobucket.com/albums/s17/ksmeteoriteguy/

Today was the first day they let residents back into Greensburg since the
tornado Friday. In many ways, this was day one of recovery.

Greensburg resident and world famous meteorite hunter, Steve "Brenham"
Arnold arrived in town around 5 p.m., just a hour before the 6 p.m. curfew.
This was only accomplished by making great time into Kansas from his home in
Arkansas. Steve brought with him into Kiowa County, his youngest daughter
Kelsey, and a certain person from Wichita, Kansas. (That would be me.)

After making our way through a couple road stops, as they were directing
traffic completely around the town, we arrived at the real road stop,
complete with a dozen armed National Guardsmen...and a couple attack
helicopters peacefully setting in the background.

I was using Steve's camcorder on the scene while the only Guardsman talking
wrote on our windshield the address we were going to, and the number of
occupants in the yellow Hummer in some type of neon green marker. We were
given directions to only go to the resident.

<http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s17/ksmeteoriteguy/2007%20Greensburg%20Tornado%20Damage/Greensburg001a.jpg>

Steve's house was in the least hit part of town, which before we arrived was
a relief to him. The thought of freely renting the place out to someone in
need, disappeared when we arrived.

<http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s17/ksmeteoriteguy/2007%20Greensburg%20Tornado%20Damage/Greensburg002a.jpg>

The previous days, rescue workers had sanctioned off the town, and marked
the searched homes with paint.....Steve got this marking...

<http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s17/ksmeteoriteguy/2007%20Greensburg%20Tornado%20Damage/Greensburg003a.jpg>

And a neat little orange paper...

<http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s17/ksmeteoriteguy/2007%20Greensburg%20Tornado%20Damage/Greensburg004a.jpg>

The Living Room

<http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s17/ksmeteoriteguy/2007%20Greensburg%20Tornado%20Damage/Greensburg005a.jpg>

The Kitchen

<http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s17/ksmeteoriteguy/2007%20Greensburg%20Tornado%20Damage/Greensburg006a.jpg>

The Laundry Room

<http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s17/ksmeteoriteguy/2007%20Greensburg%20Tornado%20Damage/Greensburg007a.jpg>

Master Bedroom. If someone would have been in this room they would have
lived. Perhaps cut a little by flying glass, but alive.

<http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s17/ksmeteoriteguy/2007%20Greensburg%20Tornado%20Damage/Greensburg008a.jpg>

The Kids Bedroom was in the best shape in the house, notice the air mattress
still inflated.

<http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s17/ksmeteoriteguy/2007%20Greensburg%20Tornado%20Damage/Greensburg009a.jpg>

Photos of Steve searching through the roof, ceiling and insultation mixture,
not a 6-8" sludge over everything.

<http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s17/ksmeteoriteguy/2007%20Greensburg%20Tornado%20Damage/Greensburg011a.jpg>

<http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s17/ksmeteoriteguy/2007%20Greensburg%20Tornado%20Damage/Greensburg012a.jpg>

<http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s17/ksmeteoriteguy/2007%20Greensburg%20Tornado%20Damage/Greensburg013a.jpg>

<http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s17/ksmeteoriteguy/2007%20Greensburg%20Tornado%20Damage/Greensburg014a.jpg>

<http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s17/ksmeteoriteguy/2007%20Greensburg%20Tornado%20Damage/Greensburg015a.jpg>

<http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s17/ksmeteoriteguy/2007%20Greensburg%20Tornado%20Damage/Greensburg016a.jpg>

Neighbors of Steve

<http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s17/ksmeteoriteguy/2007%20Greensburg%20Tornado%20Damage/Greensburg017a.jpg>

<http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s17/ksmeteoriteguy/2007%20Greensburg%20Tornado%20Damage/Greensburg018a.jpg>

<http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s17/ksmeteoriteguy/2007%20Greensburg%20Tornado%20Damage/Greensburg019a.jpg>

And around town photos. After curfew went into effect we left town, but not
before a very quick drive around, as many of the other citizens were also
doing at the time. The police, from all cities and counties in the lower
portion of Kansas, didn't seem to mind and were quite understanding of the
town's citizens needing to see for themselves.

To give a good ideal of the damage, the following photographs were taken
with my camera, while I was using the camcorder....standing through the roof
of Steve's hummer, while we quickly went around what use to be downtown
Greensburg. Meaning, places were not cherry picked for damage, I didn't
even use more then a half thought to choose a target and many times didn't
even really aim at anything.....it was simply like this everywhere.

<http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s17/ksmeteoriteguy/2007%20Greensburg%20Tornado%20Damage/Greensburg020a.jpg>

<http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s17/ksmeteoriteguy/2007%20Greensburg%20Tornado%20Damage/Greensburg021a.jpg>

<http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s17/ksmeteoriteguy/2007%20Greensburg%20Tornado%20Damage/Greensburg022a.jpg>

<http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s17/ksmeteoriteguy/2007%20Greensburg%20Tornado%20Damage/Greensburg023a.jpg>

<http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s17/ksmeteoriteguy/2007%20Greensburg%20Tornado%20Damage/Greensburg024a.jpg>

<http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s17/ksmeteoriteguy/2007%20Greensburg%20Tornado%20Damage/Greensburg025a.jpg>

<http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s17/ksmeteoriteguy/2007%20Greensburg%20Tornado%20Damage/Greensburg026a.jpg>

<http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s17/ksmeteoriteguy/2007%20Greensburg%20Tornado%20Damage/Greensburg027a.jpg>

<http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s17/ksmeteoriteguy/2007%20Greensburg%20Tornado%20Damage/Greensburg028a.jpg>

<http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s17/ksmeteoriteguy/2007%20Greensburg%20Tornado%20Damage/Greensburg029a.jpg>

<http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s17/ksmeteoriteguy/2007%20Greensburg%20Tornado%20Damage/Greensburg030a.jpg>

<http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s17/ksmeteoriteguy/2007%20Greensburg%20Tornado%20Damage/Greensburg031a.jpg>

<http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s17/ksmeteoriteguy/2007%20Greensburg%20Tornado%20Damage/Greensburg032a.jpg>

<http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s17/ksmeteoriteguy/2007%20Greensburg%20Tornado%20Damage/Greensburg033a.jpg>

<http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s17/ksmeteoriteguy/2007%20Greensburg%20Tornado%20Damage/Greensburg034a.jpg>

<http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s17/ksmeteoriteguy/2007%20Greensburg%20Tornado%20Damage/Greensburg035a.jpg>

<http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s17/ksmeteoriteguy/2007%20Greensburg%20Tornado%20Damage/Greensburg036a.jpg>

<http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s17/ksmeteoriteguy/2007%20Greensburg%20Tornado%20Damage/Greensburg037a.jpg>

<http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s17/ksmeteoriteguy/2007%20Greensburg%20Tornado%20Damage/Greensburg038a.jpg>

<http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s17/ksmeteoriteguy/2007%20Greensburg%20Tornado%20Damage/Greensburg039a.jpg>

<http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s17/ksmeteoriteguy/2007%20Greensburg%20Tornado%20Damage/Greensburg040a.jpg>

A few scenes from Haviland

<http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s17/ksmeteoriteguy/2007%20Greensburg%20Tornado%20Damage/Greensburg041a.jpg>

<http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s17/ksmeteoriteguy/2007%20Greensburg%20Tornado%20Damage/Greensburg042a.jpg>

<http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s17/ksmeteoriteguy/2007%20Greensburg%20Tornado%20Damage/Greensburg043a.jpg>

Clear Skies,
Mark Bostick
Wichita, Kansas