The short version:
- We grab a quick continental breakfast at the motel. Here’s a typical chaser breakfast (under the best of conditions):
Often, there is even less than you see here (like no waffle). Enough said!
- Drove from Hays, KS to Greensburg,KS
- Shot photos of the still decimated town.
Wow, what a mess! I admire these folk for trying to rebuild. We tour the local sightseeing stop, the largest hand-dug well in the U.S. (which only survivied the tornado because (a) it was already underground and (b) it was protected a little by the building that used to be around it. Then we shoot some photos around town.
There’s not much left, even a year later:
As we drive by houses, we still see the FEMA paint marks used to count the survivors, the injured, and those who wer etaken by the tornado. It is very sobering to be here.
Here’s a shot from inside their former Pizza Hut. Note the twisted steel beams:
Only a few yards awa, the drink cups are still in their dispensers (silver tubes, just right of center) on the wall:
Greensburg will survive and re-build, propped up by Kansas stubbornness — yes, that’s a . compliment! — and a defiant ‘N0, WE WON’T GO!” attitude, best reflected by this sign:
(Dan seems to approve of the sign as much as I do!)
- Ate lunch at the Sonic in Pratt:. The locals scarcely take notice of the chase van, having seen so many in the last month:
- Wandered around, finally returning to Greensburg,KS. Chaser convergence with Roger Hill and Silver Lining Tours ( a 5-vehicle caravan). After saying hello to Roger and the gang, Scot checks the RUC model, surface observations, and radar via our broadband connection:
- Chased south of Greensburg, through Greensburg, through to areas SW of Wichita. Caught up with Tempest Tours south of Pratt.
- Here we see Alex enjoying a moment of quiet reflection:
- Lodged at Days Inn & Suites in Wichita.
NOTE: My other photos for this day are at http://www.underthethunder.org/image/photo/2008/20080526/
| START TIME | START ODOM. | START LOC. |
|---|---|---|
| 5/26/2008 09:59 | 6188 | Super 8 Motel, Hays, KS |
| FINISH TIME | FINISH ODOM. | FINISH LOC. |
| 5/26/2008 21:35 | no est | Days Inn & Suites, Wichita, KS |
| MILES TTL. | ELAP. TIME | REMARKS |
| 339 est | 10:30 est | Storms around Greensburg. Hail to half-dollar size observed in Greensburg/Pratt stretch of US 54 |