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In the evening hours of Friday, May 4, 2007, amid a severe weather outbreak across the central United States, a devastating tornado moved through Kiowa County in southwest Kansas, heavily damaging the city of Greensburg. The tornado, known as the Greensburg tornado, tracked 28.8 miles (46.3 km) through the area, killing 11 to 12 people and injuring 63. The tornado was the first to be rated EF5 on the Enhanced Fujita scale after the retirement of the original Fujita scale in the United States on February 1, 2007.

The tornado touched down south of Greensburg at around 9:03 p.m. CDT, moving to the north while continuing to widen. It eventually entered Kiowa County, crossing U.S. Route 183, before reaching a peak width of 1.7 miles (2.7 km) to the south of Greensburg, entering the city after making a northwest turn. The tornado dissipated northwest of Greensburg after being on the ground for just over an hour.

Ninety-five percent of the city was damaged or destroyed, with some form of damage to 662 structures, and monetary losses of $250 million (2007 USD). Kiowa County, in which Greensburg is located, was declared a federal disaster area in the immediate aftermath. Rebuilding efforts were intensive, and several major federal government agencies collaborated with state agencies to help restore the city with the goal of making it a "green town" using a long-term community recovery (LTCR) plan. The plan included requiring all buildings in Greensburg to gain Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Platinum (LEED platinum) certification, the highest rating a building can achieve in the LEED program by utilizing sustainable design in energy, along with installing wind turbines in the city. The Kiowa County Memorial Hospital, which was destroyed by the tornado, was the first hospital in the United States to achieve carbon neutrality following its rebuilding in 2010.

The tornado greatly affected the economy and population of Greensburg. The city has difficulty attracting residents due to the cost of homes in the area, although it has become a point of interest among eco-tourists visiting to see the "green town" built by the Federal Emergency Management Agency's LTCR plan. (Full article...)

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