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Sunflower RC&D, Kansas: National RC&D/NRCS Earth Team Award Winner
Sunflower RC&D stages tornado relief
supplies (NRCS photo -- click to enlarge) |
Within 24 hours after an EF-5 class (National
Weather Service strongest tornado rating) tornado ripped through the town of
Greensburg, Kansas, the Sunflower RC&D Area, Inc. in cooperation with
Kansas Conservation Partners combined their efforts and support to
collect needed items and charitable donations for tornado victims. The RC&D Council, along with Earth Team volunteers, worked with the local
conservation districts and other to receive donated items and then
shuttle them to the relief area for distribution. They also worked with
the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Emergency Personnel to
workout distribution logistics. The Sunflower RC&D accounted for 143
council members and volunteers working a total of 1,336 hours.
Approximately 2,100 Bins, 2,000 Tarps, 1,500 Pairs of Gloves and 10,000
Cardboard boxes along with hand sanitizer, shop towels and package tape
have been distributed to the tornado victims.
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During the height of salvage supplies distribution efforts, the RC&D was
working with volunteers to staff the distribution site eleven hours a
day, seven days a week.
NRCS approved the Sunflower RC&D
Area County offices as drop-off sites, re-established
the field office in Greensburg, and organized a series of rural field clean sweep
opportunities for USDA employees and Earth Team volunteers to remove
debris from agricultural lands.
This project helped the council build and expand working relationships
and partnerships with other RC&Ds, local Conservation Districts, and
several corporations including Alco/Duckwalls Corporation who provided
the largest single donation of storage bins for this project.
The 95 percent devastation was probably the largest challenge. This was
the first emergency/recovery project undertaken by the RC&D. It
challenged the capacity and leadership as they worked to make decisions
that helped “make things happen” for Greensburg and the surrounding
area. | |
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