With determination and hard work, people can overcome difficult challenges. How do the people of Greensburg, Kansas, and Chicago, Illinois, illustrate this idea? Use details from both texts to support your response.



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How Green is Greensburg?


1 A few years ago, not many people outside of Kansas had ever heard of the little town of Greensburg (population 1,500). Its main claim to fame was a tourist attraction, the World’s Largest Hand-Dug Well. Today, however, the town is known world-wide. Given the town’s name, it is fitting that its fame now comes from being “green.”

May 4, 2007


2 Residents of Greensburg didn’t consider the potential danger ahead when the weather reports predicted thunderstorms. That doesn’t mean residents don’t take twisters seriously. When alarm sirens told them that a tornado had actually beenspotted nearby, they moved quickly into basements and storm shelters.


3 At 9:45 p.m., the tornado crashed into Greensburg. It measured about 1.7 miles across, nearly as wide as the entire town. Its swirling winds were moving at more than 200 miles per hour. Like a gigantic, out-of-control bulldozer, the tornado zigzagged through Greensburg. When it finally moved on, it had demolished about 95 percent of the town. Homes, businesses, schools, churches, the hospital—even the trees—were all destroyed or badly damaged. The electricity was out, and water supplies could not be trusted. Even worse, ten people had been killed.


A timeline for the Greensburg tornado is shown. At 8:55pm, the National Weather Service issues a warning about a tornado in the next county. At 9:10pm, the tornado warning says that the tornado is possibly headed for Greensburg. At 9:35pm, the tornado emergency message tells citizens to get to shelter immediately. Greensburg sets off warning sirens. At 9:45pm, the tornado enters Greensburg from the southwest. At 9:55pm, the tornado moves east out of Greensburg.

Planning a New Direction


4 Less than a week after the tornado, the community made the decision that would change Greensburg forever. The people decided that they would rebuild the town green—that is, in ways that were good for the environment. City buildings would use eco-friendly materials and be energy efficient. Citizens would build new homes the same way. Electricity would come from alternative energy sources, such as the wind and sun. Instead of giving up on Greensburg, people got excited about its future.

Building a New Town


5 Greensburg moved ahead quickly. The first challenge, however, was just keeping the town going. Government helped provide services and housing. A temporary hospital, school, and city-hall were set up.


6 In October 2009, Greensburg started constructing a wind farm with giant windmills. The wind farm would supply energy for the town. The new county hospital that opened in March 2010 was built to strict LEED standards. (LEED stands for a program called Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. Its purpose is to support green construction.) The town hall, courthouse, and arts center are also LEED buildings. The new school for grades K through 12 was finished in August 2010. It has natural daytime lighting and other energy-efficient features. Nearly half the homes in town were rebuilt according to green guidelines. Even the streetlights are designed to use less energy and reduce nighttime light pollution.


7 One of the most exciting parts of the rebuilding is the Chain of Eco-Homes Project. It was launched in early 2009. The plan was to build 12 homes in different designs that demonstrate state-of-the-art green living. The structures would serve as information centers. People would be able to stay in them and experience what an environmentally-friendly home is like. The first house was completed in 2010, and two more were started. Building the Eco-Homes provided much-needed jobs for workers in the area. The unique houses help support a new type of business in Greensburg: eco-tourism. Visitors began traveling to Greensburg to see these interesting homes and other sights on the Green Tour. They brought with them much-needed money and attention. This helped Greensburg continue its unusual comeback.


With determination and hard work, people can overcome difficult challenges. How do the people of Greensburg, Kansas, and Chicago, Illinois, illustrate this idea? Use details from both texts to support your response.