"Miracle at Greensburg" -- in Greensburg

[Mike Smith]

A couple of items...

If you were chasing the Greensburg storm, please come up and introduce yourself before the presentation Wednesday evening.

I ran into a friend earlier today who works for KWCH news. He says they are planning to cover it (of course other, bigger, news might change their plans). If you are interested and not able to attend, you might want to tune in their 10 pm newscast Wednesday evening.

 

[John J. Holt]

Mike are you aware of the new KanOkla amateur radio link that has been put in place by Stateline Skywarn that was not in place at the time of the tornado. May be something to add in your presentation. --- John

http://www.statelineskywarn.com/coverage_map.html

 

[Mike Smith]

I thought it might be of interest to post a few of the photos from the event.

First, as people were coming in, there was the most spectacular rainbow I have ever seen. It was a double bow from horizon to horizon.

There were more than 200 people there, which was an amazing crowd considering the population of the town plus the fact that schools were closed due to swine flu.

I took them through the events of that evening and, as I suspected, they were not aware of everything that was done by chasers, spotters and meteorologists to provide them the information they needed to save their lives.

I learned a number of things. For example, based on the warning, Kiowa Co. emergency services took a number of their emergency vehicles and drove them outside of town, outside of harm's way, until the tornado passed then immediately drove them back for the rescue effort.

Mike Umshied (DDC NWS) and WeatherData's Scott Breit and Trevor LaVoie (who issued the warning that kept the trains out of town from the tornado) received standing ovations from the crowd.

Here is some press coverage:

www.hutchnews.com/Greensburg/weatherman

Finally, both the mayor of Greensburg, Bob Dixon (tall gentleman) and Gene West, Kiowa Co. commissioner, fully acknowledge the role of the meteorological profession in saving lives that night. As Gene said, "We had 200 body bags and expected to have had to use them all!"

I spent about 45 minutes after the event talking with people and hearing their stories and believe it was a great evening for all concerned.

Mike

 

[Chris Strahan]

Great read on the press article and this thread. Thanks so much for sharing, and sharing with the folks of Greensburg!
Great work by all that day!!

 

[Steve Worthington]

Mike
Sorry I didn't see this till today or we would have been there. I worked in Greensburg for many months after the tornado as I`m a plumber by trade. I met many of the towns people in my time that I spent working out there. I even did some work for the City itself. I have seen many tornados and I have seen what I thought was the worst kind of tornado damage I could ever see but when the tornado took out Greensburg my eyes were opened up. I remember doing some sewer video inspections and you wouldn't believe the things that some how found then selves in the sewers. Crazy stuff happened that night that I never know could or would happen in a tornado of that size.
We found ourselves going through Greensburg this year on another chase. We took a little time to drive through town to see how much had improved for our last visit. The towns people were just staring at us like we were from outer space because we were in the chase car. If the towns people only knew the value of the storm chasers we might get a little more respect. I never let anyone know that I was a storm chaser the whole time I worked out there and I would love to see there faces when they found out...lol
I keep reading how the meteorological profession saved the day. Maybe it`s because I`m not a meteorologist, I`m a chaser, that I don't see why the meteorological profession always gets all the credit? The only way to confirm what you see on radar is to contact a chaser out in the field. I think that makes us chaser a very valuable asset to any community.
Anyway, sorry we missed it and I`m glad to see you had a good turn out.
Steve

 

[Mike Smith]

Mike
I keep reading how the meteorological profession saved the day. Maybe it`s because I`m not a meteorologist, I`m a chaser, that I don't see why the meteorological profession always gets all the credit?
Steve

Steve,

Thanks for your note and please allow me to clarify again: I use the term meteorological profession here and in my book manuscript (rather than "meteorologists") because it encompasses spotters, chasers, etc.

Think of it this way: The term medical profession encompasses nurses, physician's assistants, x-ray technicians, etc., as well as doctors.

It clearly is a team effort to warn people which is why I wrote...

If you were chasing the Greensburg storm, please come up and introduce yourself before the presentation Wednesday evening.

It was my intention to introduce any chasers who helped warn Greensburg along with Mike U. and WeatherData's meteorologists. To my knowledge none attended, thus no introductions of chasers to the crowd.

However, I mentioned -- by name -- four chasers during my Keynote presentation and explained their contribution that evening.

I hope that, as a result of Wednesday's presentation, most all residents of Greensburg will warmly welcome chasers in the future.

Mike

 

[Steve Worthington]

Mike
Don't think I was coming down on you because I wasn't. I have respected you and your weather for a long time as I`m a local

 

[Mike Smith]

Steve,

I didn't -- several others have asked the same question.

It really is important that this be a team effort, so I wanted to be clear about my terminology.

Mike