GREENSBURG, Kan. – Residents and workers cleaning up since Greensburg, Kan., was nearly flattened by a tornado this month were asked to evacuate Monday as severe wind, rain and hail were forecast to move into the area.
Sharon Watson, spokeswoman for the adjutant general, said the lack of shelter and the piles of debris left after the May 4 tornado have officials concerned about what would happen if severe weather were to strike again. Residents were asked to seek shelter outside of Greensburg, and out-of-town volunteers will not be allowed into the town today.
“There’s not enough basement space in Greensburg to protect the number of people we have there – residents and workers,” Watson said. “After all the destruction that town has seen, we certainly don’t want to have any more injuries or loss of life.”
Large hail and wind gusts over 60 mph are in the forecast today, the National Weather Service said. Heavy rainfall also is expected.
The May 4 tornado killed 12 people in south-central Kansas and destroyed more than 90 percent of the buildings in Greensburg, a town of 1,400 residents.
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