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Surviving an EF5 Tornado: One Family's Story in Pictures
Gamble Farms: Greensburg, Kansas
Kim, Ki, Kasey and Katelynn Gamble along with Kim's
sister Melanie Brant and her husband and kids all rode out the tornado
in Kim's storm shelter on their farm just North of Greensburg. I am
trying to help them, but I have been asked by many to share pictures.
This is the beginning. I'll update when I have time, but the first priority
is helping people salvage what they can. No official is allowed to help,
so citizens must help each other to quickly recover what they can salvage.
New pictures posted for June 14 and June 24, 2007:
Scroll to the bottom and you can view some of the latest pictures both
in the town of Greensburg and at the Gamble's. This is about half of
the pictures that I have, but it gives you a good idea of the progress
being made. I saw an article yesterday that talked about FEMA land,
but there were no pictures of it. As always, even if there was, you
wouldn't believe it unless you saw it. And even then, if you don't know
what it looked like before, I am not sure if you can truly understand.
Even to Kim who is living it daily, it is still hard to believe.
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Sunday, May 6, 2007 - Tornado happened Friday evening. Saturday
and Sunday brought more storms (another tornado 2 miles south
of Greensburg), shock, chaos.
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Monday, May 7, 2007 - First day anyone is allowed in the town
of Greensburg. This is overwhelming and the pictures don't convey
the smell, the emotions, or the experience. People begin to salvage
what they can. Pictures found are really treasures.
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Tuesday, May 7, 2007 - The cleanup is in full force. Kim,
Paula Stout, and I start a text messaging service for Greensburg
Residents to help communicate. They have no tv, no Internet, no
newspapers.
Paula's pictures for Tuesday, May 8:
http://memory2motion.com/photos_20070508_greensburg/
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Thursday, May 8, 2007 - Today, the kids and some parents go
to the league JR High Track Meet in Jetmore. Patty holds down
command central as text messaging has over 100 subscribers and
our best day yet. Our story is posted in the
Wichita Eagle. I return for an evening with my kids - one
school concert and Matthew is rained out of racing at 81 Speedway.
A funnel is spotted in Wellington. We are all a bit touchy with
the weather.
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Friday, May 9, 2007: Ha - Just realized my dates are all messed
up. Tornado brain! Time has no meaning right now.
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Friday, May 11, 2007 - Friday is the big start of cleanup. HS
Track team competes. Kirstie Alley sets up a tent of donations and
sees the track team off to their meet. The Town Meeting is held
today. |
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Saturday, May 12, 2007- Saturday finds that a lot of heavy equipment
has arrived. A friend of ours brings a high loader to help the Gambles
and they clear two buildings and a lot in a day. |
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Sunday, May 13, 2007 - Mother's Day, Church Service, and "when
the cow falls in the well" you get back to work, even on Sunday.
Clean up continues. |
Personal written notes.
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Personal Notes:
Sunday, May 27, 2007
- Personal note from Kim
Wondering where to donate? Consider Greensburg Future Fund. See
details.
Read about our text-messaging
service set up for Greensburg Residents.
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Monday, May 28, 2007 - Memorial Day - a fitting day for remembrance
of loved ones and things that were. Posted are some pictures developed
from Kim's film camera. |
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June 14 Developed Prints - Kim has given me rolls of film which
include pre- and post-tornado pictures. When you pick up a batch
of processed film, there is a mix of events and you will see that
reflected in this grouping of pictures. |
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Friday, June 29, 2007 - Wheat harvest has begun. Recovery efforts
continue and I wish I had time to put before and after pictures
together because the progress really is amazing! FEMA land is growing
fast. |
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Saturday, June 30 2007 - One fire on a combine, one plugged
up combine, two pivots down on the corn, two runs to the parts store,
two baseball games rained out in same day, one hail storm, and one
ten-minute conference call with Barack Obama - just a typical day
in Greensburg! |
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