Greensburg, Kansas is almost completely destroyed by a 1.7 mi wide EF5 tornado. It was the first-ever tornado to be rated as such with the new Enhanced Fujita scale.

Greensburg, a quaint city nestled in the heart of the Great Plains, serves as the county seat for Kiowa County, Kansas, United States. With a population recorded at 740 residents in the 2020 census, this small community holds a unique distinction as home to the world's largest hand-dug well, a testament to the ingenuity and perseverance of its early settlers.

A Community Forged by Disaster and Defined by Resilience

However, Greensburg's story took a dramatic and tragic turn on the evening of May 4, 2007. At approximately 9:45 PM CDT, the city was struck by an extraordinarily powerful EF5 tornado. This catastrophic event, part of a larger tornado outbreak, obliterated at least 95 percent of the city's infrastructure and tragically claimed the lives of eleven individuals, ranging in age from 46 to 84 years old. The sheer force of the tornado left an indelible mark on the landscape and the collective memory of its residents, reducing homes and businesses to rubble.

Rebuilding with a Green Vision: A Beacon of Sustainability

From the ashes of devastation, Greensburg embarked on an ambitious and inspiring journey of reconstruction, emerging as a global model for sustainable urban development. Today, it stands proudly as a "green town," frequently lauded as one of the greenest communities in America. This remarkable transformation wasn't merely about rebuilding; it was about reimagining the future with environmental stewardship at its core. Key public buildings, including the local hospital, city hall, and the community school, have all been meticulously designed and constructed to achieve the highest possible certification level issued by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program. This commitment reflects a profound dedication to energy efficiency, renewable resources, and a reduced environmental footprint, making Greensburg a living example of how a community can not only recover but thrive through sustainable practices.

Understanding the Enhanced Fujita Scale: Measuring Nature's Fury

The Enhanced Fujita scale, widely known as the EF-Scale, is a crucial tool utilized by meteorologists to assess the intensity of tornadoes. This sophisticated system rates tornadoes based on the severity and type of damage they inflict on structures and vegetation, providing a standardized measure of their destructive power. Primarily used in countries like the United States and Canada, the EF-Scale helps communities and scientists better understand the true impact of these formidable weather phenomena.

From Fujita to Enhanced Fujita: A Legacy of Improvement

The EF-Scale officially replaced its predecessor, the original Fujita scale, which was introduced in 1971 by the renowned Japanese-American meteorologist Ted Fujita. This transition marked a significant advancement in tornado damage assessment. Operational use of the Enhanced Fujita scale began in the United States on February 1, 2007—coincidentally, just months before the devastating Greensburg tornado—and later in Canada on April 1, 2013. There have even been proposals for its adoption in France, highlighting its international recognition and utility.

The Science Behind the Scale: Precision in Damage Assessment

At its core, the EF-Scale retains the foundational design of the original Fujita scale, featuring six intensity categories, ranging from EF0 to EF5. Each category corresponds to an increasing degree of damage, from light to catastrophic. However, the "Enhanced" aspect signifies crucial revisions made to improve its accuracy and consistency. Developed between 2000 and 2004 by the Fujita Scale Enhancement Project at the Wind Science and Engineering Research Center at Texas Tech University, this extensive project involved dozens of expert meteorologists and civil engineers. Their collaborative efforts aimed to:

An important addition to the scale is the "EF-Unknown" (EFU) category, introduced for instances where a tornado's intensity cannot be reliably rated due to a complete lack of discernible damage evidence along its path. The new scale was publicly unveiled by the National Weather Service at an American Meteorological Society conference in Atlanta on February 2, 2006, marking a significant milestone in meteorological science.

Understanding Wind Speed Estimates: A Proxy for Power

It's crucial to understand that, like its predecessor, the Enhanced Fujita scale remains fundamentally a damage scale. This means it serves as a proxy for actual wind speeds rather than a direct measurement. Measuring the precise wind speeds within a tornado is exceptionally challenging and often impossible due to the destructive nature of these storms and the danger involved. While the wind speeds associated with each damage category have not undergone costly empirical analyses (such as detailed physical or numerical modeling), they were meticulously derived through a process of expert elicitation. This involved gathering insights from various engineering studies conducted since the 1970s, combined with the extensive field experience of meteorologists and engineers. In addition to visible damage to structures and vegetation, supplementary data like radar observations, photogrammetry (using photographs to determine measurements), and even cycloidal marks (distinct ground swirl patterns left by tornadoes) can be utilized to aid in damage assessment when available.

First Implementations in Action

The EF-Scale was first put into operational use in the United States approximately a year after its public announcement. This occurred when parts of central Florida experienced multiple tornadoes, with the strongest among them being rated as EF3 on the new scale. In Canada, its first application came shortly after its implementation there, when a tornado developed near the town of Shelburne, Ontario, on April 18, 2013, causing damage assessed up to EF1 intensity.

Frequently Asked Questions About Greensburg and the EF-Scale

What makes Greensburg, Kansas, unique?
Greensburg is known for two primary reasons: first, it is home to the world's largest hand-dug well, a historical marvel. Second, and more recently, it has gained international recognition as a leading "green town" and a model for sustainable rebuilding after being devastated by an EF5 tornado in 2007.
What happened to Greensburg on May 4, 2007?
On the evening of May 4, 2007, Greensburg was struck by a powerful EF5 tornado that destroyed at least 95 percent of the city. The catastrophic event tragically resulted in the deaths of eleven people and necessitated a complete reconstruction of the community.
How did Greensburg become a "green town"?
Following the 2007 tornado, the community of Greensburg made a deliberate decision to rebuild using sustainable and environmentally friendly practices. This commitment is evident in public buildings like the hospital, city hall, and school, which have all achieved the highest LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification levels, showcasing their dedication to energy efficiency and sustainability.
What is the Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale?
The Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale is a system used to rate the intensity of tornadoes based on the severity of the damage they cause to structures and vegetation. It provides meteorologists and the public with a standardized way to categorize the destructive power of a tornado.
How does the EF-Scale differ from the original Fujita Scale?
The EF-Scale is an improved version of the original Fujita Scale. It features more detailed damage indicators, better correlation between damage and estimated wind speeds, and accounts for variations in construction quality. It was developed through extensive research by experts to be more accurate and consistent in damage assessment.
Why is the EF-Scale important?
The EF-Scale is crucial for several reasons: it helps meteorologists understand and categorize tornado events, contributes to better public safety warnings, aids engineers in designing more resilient structures, and informs post-disaster analysis. By accurately assessing damage, it provides valuable data for future preparedness and building standards.
How are tornado wind speeds determined using the EF-Scale?
The EF-Scale is primarily a damage scale, meaning it estimates wind speeds based on the observed destruction rather than direct measurement. These wind speed estimates are derived from expert elicitation, drawing on decades of engineering studies and the field experience of meteorologists and civil engineers. While not direct measurements, they serve as the best available scientific proxy for a tornado's actual power.