On May 4, 2007, Greensburg, Kan., was hit by a devastating
tornado that leveled 39 blocks and destroyed 95 percent of the
community with winds of more than 200 mph. The tornado was
classified as an EF5, the highest rating on the Enhanced Fujita
tornado damage scale.
Contemplating the rebuilding effort, City Administrator Steve
Hewitt and other town leaders faced a harsh reality: Greensburg had
been struggling for many years before the tornado because of a lack
of economic opportunity. The city's population had steadily
declined since 1960, and, according to the 2000 Census, the median
age of Greensburg residents was 45.6, more than 10 years older than
the overall median age in the U.S. The town's leaders and residents
decided to treat the tragedy as an opportunity to reinvent
Greensburg.
To live up to their city's name, Greensburg residents decided to
rebuild a more sustainable, eco-friendly town that could serve as a
model green community for the future. The city council passed a
policy resolution stating all new city buildings would be
constructed to meet U.S. Green Building Council LEED® Platinum
standards; it was the first city in the U.S. to pass such a
resolution.
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