Greensburg prayers (Hutchinson, Dodge City, Pratt: insurance, house, neighborhood)

[pastorden]

Watching the coverage of the Greensburg devastation broke my heart. I was born and raised in Haviland and Greensburg. I pastor a church in Huntsville, TX, and our prayers are with everybody there. I do not know what we can do, but churches in Huntsville would help in any way we can. Stay strong, the people of America are behind you.

[rays550]

My prayers go out to the residents. Their lives have been devastated. It's hard to comprehend. I notice on tv coverage a very tall buildibg still standing in the middle of all the rubble and can't help but be curious what this building is. tv also showed a big stream of people returning to the area by car It had almost seemed that eveyone's car was destroyed. Can't help but wonder if all these people escaped the area in their cars. Sure hope the people in Greensburg get lots of help, a lot more than the people in Katrina got. Ray

[dumpstermcnuggets]

Originally Posted by rays550

My prayers go out to the residents. Their lives have been devastated. It's hard to comprehend. I notice on tv coverage a very tall buildibg still standing in the middle of all the rubble and can't help but be curious what this building is. tv also showed a big stream of people returning to the area by car It had almost seemed that eveyone's car was destroyed. Can't help but wonder if all these people escaped the area in their cars. Sure hope the people in Greensburg get lots of help, a lot more than the people in Katrina got. Ray

I agree with ya. I sure hope they(Greensburg) aren't forgotten, the way that many parts of Louisiana, AND including southern Mississippi, seemed to became forgotten, after Katrina struck both those states hard.

[firebll31]

Originally Posted by rays550

My prayers go out to the residents. Their lives have been devastated. It's hard to comprehend. I notice on tv coverage a very tall buildibg still standing in the middle of all the rubble and can't help but be curious what this building is. tv also showed a big stream of people returning to the area by car It had almost seemed that eveyone's car was destroyed. Can't help but wonder if all these people escaped the area in their cars. Sure hope the people in Greensburg get lots of help, a lot more than the people in Katrina got. Ray

I believe the tall buildings you are refering to is the grain elevator, next to the railroad. Remember this is the Bible Belt-many people (my relatives included) are getting help from churches in other towns, and I know my cousin drove down from Hutchinson with a pick-up truck to help salvage what they could. My aunt actually had a Lumina make it through with just a broken passenger window and windshield (and lots of debris inside). They were also missing their outdoor cat, and guess who showed up 2 days later, in the basement of their house? He was very hungry and a little freaked out, but O.K. They have no idea where he rode the storm out.

[malarkey]

pretty amazing about the cat!

[gizmo980]

I just started a thread on the General US board, about donating money to the library (which was destroyed completely)... if anyone wants to help, here's the link I posted over there: http://www.ala.org/ala/alonline/curr...iowacounty.cfm

Obviously there are other ways to help them, but as a librarian, I thought it would be good to spread the word on that particular loss. My thoughts are with the people out there, and hopefully they'll re-build everything eventually.

[kddavis]

Originally Posted by rays550

My prayers go out to the residents. Their lives have been devastated. It's hard to comprehend. I notice on tv coverage a very tall buildibg still standing in the middle of all the rubble and can't help but be curious what this building is. tv also showed a big stream of people returning to the area by car It had almost seemed that eveyone's car was destroyed. Can't help but wonder if all these people escaped the area in their cars. Sure hope the people in Greensburg get lots of help, a lot more than the people in Katrina got. Ray

I'm originally from Greensburg and the building you may be talking about could either be the Courthouse or there was one brick building left standing downtown. Amazing how the other building attached to it were totally destroyed and it was completely intact! In ref. to the number of people returning by cars, this area is very rural if you're not familiar with it. The entire county only has approximately 4300 residents. However most families have two to three vehicles. The surrounding neighbors and friends are lending them extra vehicles to drive. Also in my brother's case the insurance company wrote them a check for their vehicles on Monday following the tornado on Friday so they could get back in business. They have already bought a building in a neighboring town and have reopened their business. Granted it will take them time to get it back like it was before but they are at least open and serving their customers. These people are very resilient. They have a lot of spirit. Due to lack of population, neighbors rely on helping neighbors in these communities anyway on a day to day basis. This is the bible belt as was mentioned before and faith and prayers will get these people through. I personally grieve for the loss of my home town and the death of the residents there. Thanks everyone for your prayers!

[Paul_Bettes]

I'm from Greensburg also, and he probably is referring to the grain elevator (it's white). That and the court house are about all that's left in the middle of the city. Everything from Spruce to Sycamore was simply ERASED. I drove by the trailer court I grew up in and didn't even realize it untill my sister turned down spruce to go to where our fathers house had been. I really hope Dillons does decide to rebuild the store, that will be the key thing I've heard a lot of people say will be the deciding factor in wether they stay or not. As far as I know, it was the only grocery store in the county, and people would have to drive to Pratt (30 miles) or Dodge City (45 miles) to shop.

[debbie Zimmerman]

I am really saddened about all the losses I cannot believe the devistation and all my good memories of Greensburg and raising my children there but there was one miracle the neighborhood I owned my house was still there Poplar and the house was not touched and my neighbors were all ok they are still part of my heart and family. God Bless you all I am interested in relocating if there are jobs still available at the City. Believe it or not I am homeless due to my spouse.

[malarkey]

Was able to stop by Greensburg in late October when I was home visiting family. Found this sculpture put up by the Big Well: