TOPEKA, Kan. — A tornado leveled Jerrold Hoffman’s town of Udall more than 50 years ago, killing 77 people and leaving little behind for the survivors. So after a twister swept through Greensburg this year, wreaking similar destruction, he decided he would at least try to help the town get its scenery back.
Saturday, he and a group of volunteers plan to begin overseeing tree planting to help return a sense of normalcy to residents after the May 4 tornado, which killed 10 people, destroyed some 2,000 trees and nearly wiped the town of 1,400 off the map.
About 40 homeowners have signed up to have a tree planted in their yards. The money raised for the project has come from donors nationwide, including many with ties to Greensburg or Udall, 120 miles apart, Hoffman said.
One donor wrote that her mother lost her home in the Udall tornado of May 25, 1955, he said.
“When she spoke of the tornado, she always said she was sad because she lost so many of her friends and her trees,” the letter writer said. “When anyone would ask her what they could do to help after the storm she always said, ‘Plant a tree.’ “
Hoffman took his idea to the Udall Community Historical Society, which agreed in June to sponsor the fundraising and put him in charge. He said he is about $2,000 short of his goal of $10,000 to buy trees but decided to move ahead.
“We haven’t reached the minimum goal, but we’ve got enough to get started,” he said.
Hoffman said he is planning more tree-planting trips next year.
“I thought it was going to be an overnight job. But it’s going to be an ongoing job,” he said. “I think by next fall we should be pretty close to finishing.”
Helping Hoffman plant trees will be the Westar Energy Green Team, comprising volunteers who are employees and retirees of the state’s largest electric utility, Westar Energy Inc. The group has taken part in environmental projects since 1989.
“Udall stepped forward because they wanted to help Greensburg. All we’re doing is helping to make it happen,” said Brad Loveless, Green Team coordinator. “They had a great idea and we have a lot of tree-planting experience and lots of volunteers.”
The trees are 10 to 12 feet tall and include oaks, elms and cottonwoods, all types that can thrive in areas like Greensburg with low rainfall, high winds and sandy clay soil, Loveless said.
Plans call for one tree for each homeowner wanting one, but Hoffman said there will be extra trees for those wanting another. The trees will be given to homeowners with functioning utilities, so they can water them.
Loveless said he and other volunteers will show residents how to plant and care for the young trees. New trees take decades to mature, but Greensburg can see a little of its future in Udall, which now has scores shading its yards.
Carmen Stauth, county extension agent who has been helping Hoffman arrange the tree planning, said receiving trees from a town that went through a similar disaster adds meaning.
“Working with communities that have gone through similar experiences gives a community a sense of hope that we can come back and be a bigger, stronger community,” she said.
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