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EPA Region 7 Responders Will Participate in Greensburg Celebration

Release Date: 09/05/2008
Contact Information: Dianna Whitaker, (913) 551-7598 or (913) 909-5788, whitaker.dianna@epa.gov

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Environmental News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Kansas City, Kan., Sept. 5, 2008) - Federal on-scene coordinators (OSCs) from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will participate in the "Procession of Responders" in Greensburg, Kan., beginning at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday, September 7, 2008. The procession will recognize the law enforcement, emergency management, fire department, military, city, county, state and federal officials who responded to the disaster caused by the EF-5 tornado that destroyed 95 percent of the town on May 4, 2007.

EPA dispatched several OSCs to Greensburg with a response truck and mobile command post on May 5, 2007. OSCs immediately began addressing fuel releases, chlorine cylinders, anhydrous ammonia tanks, propane tanks and other hazardous materials. On May 9, EPA was tasked by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to assess and remove oil and hazardous materials released by the tornado. EPA also assisted the local community with curbside collection and disposal of household hazardous waste, large appliances and electronic goods that were damaged or destroyed by the disaster. EPA responders collected 37,000 hazmat items by the time they demobilized from Greensburg on June 9, 2007.

Shortly after the tornado disaster, Gov. Kathleen Sebelius stated her goal that Greensburg become "the greenest city in the state." With FEMA funding, EPA Region 7 has also participated in the town's long-term recovery and green redevelopment process to help make this goal a reality.

The New York Says Thank You Foundation is sending more than 250 volunteers to rebuild the Livestock Pavilion of the Kiowa County Fairgrounds in Greensburg from September 4-7, 2008. The "Procession of Responders" will end at the rebuilt pavilion.