Tornado’s Gifts: Greensburg Rebuilds, Revitalizes
Many people in Greensburg, Kan., say that when their town was hit by a tornado last year, it was something of a gift. Residents have worked furiously during the past year not only to revitalize the once-dying town, but also to rebuild it in a way that is both economically and environmentally sustainable.
As President Bush visits Sunday, one year after one of the most powerful tornados on record obliterated the small town, he’ll find an amazing revitalization. Wind turbines, dozens of houses and some of the world’s most environmentally friendly buildings have sprouted where the tornado left only splintered rubble.
The city has committed to rebuilding “LEED Platinum,” the highest standard awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council. That’s no mean feat for what had been a faltering, cash-strapped little town before the licking it took from the EF5 tornado.
