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2007 Greensburg tornado

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On the evening of May 4, 2007, amid a tornado outbreak, a large and devastating EF5 tornado moved through the town of Greensburg, located in southern Kansas. The tornado, known as the Greensburg tornado or just Greensburg, tracked 28.8 miles (46.3 km) through the area, killing eleven and injuring sixty-three others. The tornado was the first to be rated EF5 on the Enhanced Fujita scale; the Fujita scale was used to rate tornadoes until February 2007.

2007 Greensburg tornado
Clockwise from top: The tornado, as seen at EF5 intensity in Greensburg; the photographer was located 18 miles (29 km) southwest of Greensburg. At this point, the tornado has taken on a large "wedge" shape,[note 1] a heavily damaged house in Greensburg, a radar image of the supercell that produced the tornado, disaster recovery workers clearing debris from Greensburg, damage to downtown Greensburg, which took a direct hit from the tornado.
Meteorological history
FormedMay 4, 2007, 9:00 p.m. CDT (UTC−05:00)
DissipatedMay 4, 2007, 10:05 p.m. CDT (UTC−05:00)
Duration65 minutes
EF5 tornado
on the Enhanced Fujita scale
Highest winds205 mph (330 km/h)
Overall effects
Fatalities11 (+2 indirect)
Injuries63
Damage95% of Greensburg damaged to some degree
Economic losses$268 million (2007 USD)
Areas affectedGreensburg, Kansas
Part of the Tornado outbreak of May 4–6, 2007 and Tornadoes of 2007

The tornado touched down in northern Comanche County, moving to the north while continuously widening. The nocturnal wedge tornado eventually entered into Kiowa County, crossing U.S. Route 183 before entering the city limits of Greensburg. The tornado heavily damaged Greensburg as it moved through; 662 structures in the town sustained some form of damage, and eleven were killed before the tornado left the area. Northwest of Greensburg, the tornado suddenly turned, looping back around before dissipating over an hour after first touching down.

The tornado devastated Greensburg, damaging 95% of the town and leaving $268 million (2007 USD) in damage. Rebuilding efforts after the tornado were intensive, and several major government agencies collaborated with state agencies to help rebuild the town with the goal of making it a "green town".

As of 2024, the tornado is the most recent to receive an EF5 rating in the state of Kansas.

Meteorological synopsis

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Main article: Tornado outbreak of May 4–6, 2007 § Meteorological synopsis
 
The tornado watch issued for portions of Oklahoma and Kansas on May 4.

On May 4,[1] a low stalled over the High Plains and additional moisture coming from the Gulf of Mexico moved in behind the warm front and increased amounts of instability across much of the region, with CAPE values as high as 5,500 J/kg.[2] In addition, the dry line, which marks a divided line between the dry and humid air mass, was positioned over the southern High Plains. This allowed for the initiation of scattered supercells on May 4. High wind shear also allowed for intense rotation in the atmosphere. All of the ingredients were present in the atmosphere for the developing of supercell thunderstorms producing damaging wind, large hail and tornadoes.[3]

The Storm Prediction Center issued a moderate risk for severe weather across western Kansas and small portions of Oklahoma, Colorado and Nebraska for May 4, while temperatures were in the mid to high 80s°F (near 30 °C). The atmosphere remained capped for much of the day, but storms began to develop in the late afternoon hours in western Oklahoma and the eastern Texas Panhandle.[3][4] The most intense supercells developed in the early evening hours across northwestern Oklahoma and southwestern Kansas. These intense tornadic supercells eventually produced 25 tornadoes, including the Greensburg tornado.[5][6]

Tornado summary

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The tornado emergency that was issued for areas including Greensburg, prior to the tornado striking the town.

Prior to touching down, the tornado discretely cycled and begun rotating under the southwest flank of its parent supercell.[7][8] The tornado first touched down at around 9:00 pm CDT, taking on a wedge shape shortly after touching down. Several storm chasers captured the formation of a tornado south of Greensburg around 9:20 pm CDT, which apparently strengthened as it neared Greensburg and began moving due-north towards the town, and at 9:38 pm CDT, storm chasers reported that it had grown to over 1/2 mile in diameter. Eyewitnesses and storm chasers reported that multiple vortices were circulating around the perimeter of the large, wedge-shaped tornado during its early stages. A short time later, at least two distinct satellite tornadoes, including a narrow rope tornado, were reported by local media and observed by multiple weather spotters and storm chasers.[9]

As the main tornado continued through rural areas, many trees were snapped and debarked, severe ground scouring occurred, and oil tanks were destroyed, with oil strewn across pastures and roads.[10][11] It continued to grow in size as the very large wedge tornado approached the city of Greensburg from the south. As the tornado crossed Highway 183 south of town, it reached its maximum width of 1.7 miles wide. Several farmsteads along the highway were damaged or destroyed, livestock was killed, and trees were denuded and debarked in this area as well. At 9:41 pm CDT, the National Weather Service office in Dodge City issued a tornado emergency for Greensburg,[12][13][14] which read:[15]

..A TORNADO EMERGENCY FOR GREENSBURG...

AT 937 PM CDT…NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS AND STORM SPOTTERS WERE TRACKING A LARGE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED 5 MILES SOUTH OF GREENSBURG…MOVING NORTH AT 20 MPH.

A VIOLENT TORNADO WAS ON A DIRECT PATH FOR PORTIONS OF GREENSBURG… ESPECIALLY THE EASTERN PORTIONS OF TOWN. TAKE IMMEDIATE TORNADO PRECATIONS…THIS IS AN EMERGENCY SITUATION FOR GREENSBURG

Impact in Greensburg

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The massive tornado continued due-north, following Main Street into the south side of Greensburg. Multiple homes, including an entire row of seven adjacent residences, were swept completely away and scattered across a field in this area at the south edge of town. Three of the houses were well-bolted to their foundations, and ground scouring occurred nearby. Damage in this area was rated EF5 as a result.[16] The tornado weakened slightly as it entered residential areas in southern Greensburg, but remained violent as it directly impacted Delmar Day Elementary School, completely leveling a section of the building and flattening many homes nearby at EF4 intensity. Continuing north, downtown Greensburg was completely devastated by the tornado, with numerous businesses destroyed. Two schools, a Tractor Supply Company store, the Greensburg City Hall and other businesses fell victim to the violent winds and were destroyed or flattened. A motel on the west side of town was severely damaged, trees throughout the town were completely denuded and stripped clean of all bark, and vehicles were thrown hundreds of yards and mangled beyond recognition.[17]

 
Damage to a brick-lined swimming pool as a result of the tornado.

The Greensburg High School, located around one block east of the tornado's convergence line, was heavily damaged.[18] Numerous homes were swept away across from the high school, four of which were well-bolted to their foundations, warranting an EF5 rating at those residences.[16] Several fire hydrants were ripped from the ground in town as well. The city's water tower was completely toppled and smashed, and the visitor's center at the Big Well (which is the world's largest hand-dug well) was completely destroyed. Train cars were also overturned and hazardous materials teams were called to inspect the wreckage. A tank car carrying about 14,000 gallons (53,000 liters) of ammonia started to leak when workers lifted it. The courthouse and the grain elevator were spared the worst of the tornado's effects. Meanwhile, the Greensburg meteorite, which was feared to have been blown away, was found and recovered a few days afterwards.[16][19]

Past downtown, neighborhoods in northern Greensburg were completely flattened, and many homes were swept cleanly away. A large brick Mennonite Church in this area was completely leveled with the foundation partially swept clean of debris, vehicles were thrown and mangled, trees sustained complete debarking, and severe ground scouring occurred before the tornado left the city limits. The tornado continued north of Greensburg, executing a loop in a farm field before dissipating. The total path length was 22.8 miles (37 km),[20] and the width of the funnel reached 1.7 miles (2.7 km). Overall, 95% of Greensburg was destroyed.[21] A total of 961 homes and businesses were destroyed, 216 received major damage and 307 received minor damage.[22][23][24]

Aftermath

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Greensburg was devastated by the tornado,[25] with 95% of structures within city limits sustaining some degree of tornado-related damage.[26][27][28] Over 800,000 yards (730 km) of tornado-related debris were removed from Greensburg in the aftermath of the tornado.[29][30] Initial recovery attempts in the days following the tornado were stunted by rain and other bad weather conditions that made it difficult to clean up the town.[31]

Damage to homes

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A damage survey conducted by Timothy P. Marshall, Joshua Wurman and several other experts found that a total of fifty-three homes were slid off of brick foundations that anchored the homes to the ground, which was eventually rated as EF2-consistent damage.[26] 194 homes sustained EF0 damage; the vast majority of these homes were located along the outer path of the tornado on the east and west side of town.[26] The survey also concluded that damage on the tornado's east side was more severe than damage of that on its west side.[26]

Table of structural damage in Greensburg, by EF scale[26]
EF Rating Structures with EF-X damage % of total damage
EF0 194 29
EF1 74 11
EF2 177 27
EF3 104 16
EF4 106 16
EF5 7 1
Total 662 structures sustained EF0-5 damage

The survey also found that only seventeen percent of homes damaged by the tornado were damaged to the point where occupation would not be possible, and 28 manufactured homes were destroyed.[32]

Greensburg High School

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Greensburg High School, as seen several days after the tornado. Damage to the high school was eventually rated as EF3.

The Greensburg High School, located around one block east of the tornado's convergence line, was heavily damaged.[18] As the tornado moved through the area, northward-facing winds battered the building, causing the top floor of the main building and the southern wall of an adjacent building to collapse inward. The east-facing walls of the high school also collapsed inward; the west-facing walls collapsed in an outward direcftion due to the movement of wind. In a damage survey conducted after the tornado, it was found that the building's large window sills anchored by hinge lines were unable to hold up against high winds, causing the collapse.[33][16] Numerous homes were swept away across from the high school, four of which were well-bolted to their foundations, warranting an EF5 rating at those residences.[16]

Delmer Day Elementary School

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The Delmer Day Elementary School was the subject of an in-depth damage survey, which detailed how the school collapsed. Similarly to the Greensburg High School, the elementary was located to the east of the tornado's convergence line, and strong winds initiated a collapse on the school's south and east-facing walls.[34] A lack of steel vertical columns along the school's window sills, accompanied by weak hinge lines, was concluded to be the cause of the collapse. Damage inflicted to the school was eventually given an EF4 rating.[34][35]

Kiowa County Memorial Hospital

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The Kiowa County Memorial Hospital was reinforced with internal vertical steel beams which extended along the floors and ceilings, along with double-thick masonry walls. Despite this, the hospital sustained heavy damage, and a 9,900 pounds (4,500 kg) steel beam was lifted from the hospital's frame and lofted into a vehicle to the hospital's northeast. A damage survey concluded that winds of 147 miles per hour (66 m/s) were needed to lift and toss the beam, which garnered damage to the hospital an EF3 rating.[36][37]

Rebuilding efforts

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Following the tornado, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) activated the Long-Term Community Recovery (LTRC) program, which was designed to help recovery efforts with joint cooperation with the State of Kansas and other federal agencies willing to help.[38][39] The United States Department of Energy (USDoE) collaborated with other agencies during the rebuilding process, and converted Greensburg's main energy source from fossil fuels to wind, collected using wind turbines.[40] As a result, the Greensburg Wind Farm was developed, consisting of ten 13-megawatt turbines.[41][41][42]

 
Marine One, carrying then-President George W. Bush, flies over Greensburg on May 9.

Along with changes to Greensburg's energy sources, the LTRC also required that all buildings built within the city limits of Greensburg meet LEED Platinum certifications; only the Kiowa County Memorial Hospital was an exception to this requirement, although the hospital later garnered an LEED Platinum certification.[40]

In 2011, after being rebuilt,[43] the hospital became the first in the United States to operate using carbon neutral energy. In 2012, the hospital became the first to use entrapped rainwater to run water-based utilities, such as toilets.[40] A 50-kilowatt wind turbine was installed on the site of the hospital to further reduce fossil fuel usage.[40][43][44] George W. Bush, who was the United States president at the time of the tornado, visited the town to survey damage.[45][29] Rod Blagojevich, Governor of Illinois at the time, wrote a letter to the Governor of Kansas, offering his condolences and support. The letter, which was sent three days after the tornado, read:[46]

"On behalf of the people of Illinois, I express my sadness at the devastation caused by last weekend's tornadoes. I offer my condolences on the loss of lives and the families broken apart by this disaster. The State of Illinois joins in mourning the victims and praying that their loved ones can someday find peace," said Gov. Blagojevich. "I am proud to offer my support to the State of Kansas, and encourage you to reach out to my office and let us know in what way we can help Greensburg and its residents rebuild their lives and their community."

— Rod R. Blagojevich, May 7, 2007

Almost 500 soldiers from the United States National Guard were deployed to Greensburg to aid with recovery efforts, and the crews provided machinery and communications for the area.[47]

Fatalities

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Eleven people were killed by the tornado, all of whom lived in Greensburg.[48][30] The initial fatality estimate ranged from nine to eleven, but an additional death was later concluded to be a false report.[49][50] Claude Hopkins, who was 79 at the time of the tornado, was found dead 100 yards (91 m) from his home; he was likely killed attempting to escape the tornado via car. Larry Hoskins, 51, was killed at an unknown location, and David Lyon, who was 48 at the time, was killed when the mobile home he lived in took a direct hit from the tornado. Colleen Panzer, 77, was found dead after the tornado, and Ron Rediger, who was 57 at the time, was found in the rubble of his home, which lacked a basement.[51][52]

Evelyn Kelly, 75, was killed when the apartment complex she lived in collapsed. Sarah Tackett, 72, Beverly Volz, 52, and Max McColm, 77, were all found dead in different parts of Greensburg; their cause of death is unknown. Richard Fry, who was 62, was also found dead. Harold Schmidt, who was 77 at the time of the tornado, was seriously injured when a pickup truck landed inside of the basement that he and his wife were sheltering in; he died as a result of his injuries ten days after the tornado.[51][52] In total, 76 casualties were recorded, including sixty-three injuries and eleven deaths directly relating to the tornado, and two more indirect deaths, likely caused by satellite tornadoes.[51]

A study carried out by the University of Kansas Health System in April 2013 concluded that the critical mortality rate from the tornado was 18%, and that age was related to the degree of injuries sustained from the tornado.[53]

Depiction in media

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The tornado and its aftermath have been depicted in several television shows.

  • Greensburg, a show documenting the rebuilding efforts in Greensburg.[54]
  • Greensburg: Relive the Most Destructive Tornado in History, a series that documents the immediate aftermath of the tornado, aired on PBS.[55]
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Damage in Greensburg
 
A debarked tree in Greensburg in May 2010.
 
EF4-rated damage to the Greensburg High School, which took an indirect hit from the tornado.
 
Damage to a home in Greensburg.
Recovery efforts in Greensburg
 
A burn pit in Greensburg. The pit was set up to help burn debris left by the tornado.
 
An excavator razing a house in Greensburg, to mitigate debris.
 
FEMA trailers in Greensburg after the tornado, which were erected to provide shelter to residents who lost their homes.

See also

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Notes and footnotes

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Notes

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  1. ^ A "wedge" refers to the shape of strong, wide tornadoes. When a tornado is described as a "wedge", it is typically large, with sloping sides and may look like a low-hanging cloud that makes contact with the ground

Footnotes

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  1. ^ "Event Summaries". National Weather Service. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
  2. ^ Davies, Jon. "CAPE/CIN (J/Kg, Saturday May 5, 2007)". Archived from the original on June 5, 2007. Retrieved 2007-05-14.
  3. ^ a b Davies, Jon. "The Greensburg Tornado Environment on 4 May 2007". Archived from the original on May 16, 2007. Retrieved 2007-05-14.
  4. ^ "Greening Greensburg". Orion Magazine. 2014-01-21. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
  5. ^ NOAA, National Weather Service. "Tornado Watch 227". Archived from the original on April 28, 2008. Retrieved 2007-05-14.
  6. ^ Belski, John (2017-05-04). "10 year anniversary of the EF-5 Greensburg, KS tornado". WLKY. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  7. ^ Bluestein 2009, p. 5.
  8. ^ "Stunning intensity of 2007 Kansas tornado examined". The Columbus Dispatch. December 30, 2008. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
  9. ^ "May 4, 2007 tornado devastates Greensburg". KSN-TV. 2015-02-22. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  10. ^ "Storm Events Database - Event Details | National Centers for Environmental Information". www.ncdc.noaa.gov. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  11. ^ Robb Lawson. "Barton and Ellsworth County Tornado". National Weather Service. Archived from the original on May 9, 2007. Retrieved 2007-05-05.
  12. ^ Herb White. "Aware: Climate, Water, Weather" (PDF). National Weather Service. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-04-11. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  13. ^ "Survivors sought as more storms threaten Plains". CNN. Archived from the original on May 9, 2007. Retrieved 2007-05-06.
  14. ^ "200705050219-KDDC-WFUS53-TORDDC". MESONET. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
  15. ^ Murray, Bill (May 4, 2012). "Five Years Ago Tonight: The Greensburg, KS EF5 Tornado". AlabamaWx. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
  16. ^ a b c d e Marshall, Tim (2007). "Damage Survey of the Greensburg, KS tornado" (PDF). ams.confex.com. American Meteorological Society. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
  17. ^ Marshall et al., p. 2.
  18. ^ a b "Town Destroyed by Tornado Celebrates Graduation". ABC News. May 19, 2007. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  19. ^ KAKE-TV. "Greensburg Meteorite Recovered". Archived from the original on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2007-05-09.
  20. ^ Brinkmann, Heather (2022-05-03). "First EF-5 tornado still changing lives in Greensburg, Kansas, 15 years later". FOX Weather. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  21. ^ Nossiter, Adam (May 7, 2007). "An Empty Place Where a Kansas Town Once Stood". The New York Times. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
  22. ^ "Storm Events Database - Event Details | National Centers for Environmental Information". www.ncdc.noaa.gov. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  23. ^ "Search Resumes in Devastated Kansas Town". Archived from the original on 2007-05-10. Retrieved 2007-05-05.
  24. ^ McCarthy, Daniel (2007). "The Greensburg, KS Tornado" (PDF). ams.confex.com. American Meteorological Society. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
  25. ^ "Greensburg marks 15 years since deadly EF-5 tornado". KAKE. 2022-05-02. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  26. ^ a b c d e Marshall et al., p. 2.1.
  27. ^ "Thursday marks 16 years since rare EF-5 tornado nearly destroyed Greensburg". KWCH. 2023-05-04. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
  28. ^ Press, The Associated Press | The Associated (2007-05-05). "Tornadoes kill 9 in Kansas". The Denver Post. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  29. ^ a b "2007 EF5 Tornado". City of Greensburg. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
  30. ^ a b Hutton 2008.
  31. ^ Paul et al. 2007.
  32. ^ Marshall et al., p. 2.2.
  33. ^ Marshall et al., p. 2.5.
  34. ^ a b Marshall et al., p. 2.6.
  35. ^ Service, McClatchey News (2007-05-11). "Tornado victims seek aid". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  36. ^ Marshall et al., p. 2.7.
  37. ^ "Green Initiative & The Tornado". Kiowa County Memorial Hospital. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  38. ^ "Greensburg, Kansas Recovery Plan". ICMA. 2010-01-01. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
  39. ^ Cole 2018.
  40. ^ a b c d "Following a Devastating Tornado, Town and Hospital Rebuild to Harness Wind Energy | U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit". U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
  41. ^ a b "Building GREEN in Greensburg: Wind Farm" (PDF). United States Department of Energy. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
  42. ^ magazine, Patrick Quinn, USA TODAY Green Living. "After devastating tornado, town is reborn 'green'". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2024-11-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  43. ^ a b ROSS, BY EDIE. "Nearly 3 years after twister, Kansas hospital to rise from rubble". The Oklahoman. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  44. ^ Bowers, Cynthia (2011-05-27). "Greensburg rebuilds 4 years after tragic tornado - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  45. ^ "President Bush Visits Greensburg, Kansas to Survey Tornado Damage, Offer Condolences". George W Bush Archives. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
  46. ^ "Governor Blagojevich offers condolences, support to Kansas Governor in response to Greensburg tornado". Illinois.gov. May 7, 2007. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
  47. ^ Greg, Rudl (May 11, 2007). "National Guard cleaning up devastated Kansas town". United States Air Force. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
  48. ^ "14 years ago: Greensburg tornado kills 11, injures 63 injured in 2007". KSNT 27 News. 2021-05-04. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  49. ^ "SPC Severe Weather Event Review for Friday May 04, 2007". www.spc.noaa.gov. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  50. ^ Team, Shamrock (2023-10-16). "7 Most Memorable Storms of the Past Two Decades". Shamrock Roofing and Construction. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  51. ^ a b c Finger, Stan (May 4, 2017). "Remembering those who died in the Greensburg tornado". The Wichita Eagle. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
  52. ^ a b National Weather Service Office in Dodge City, Kansas (2007). Kansas Event Report: EF5 Tornado. National Climatic Data Center (Report). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original on October 6, 2021. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
  53. ^ Ablah et al. 2013.
  54. ^ Camacho, Melissa. "Parents' Guide to Greensburg". Common Sense Media. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  55. ^ Schodorf, Brian (2008-05-04), Greensburg: Relive the Most Destructive Tornado in History (Documentary), Kathleen Sebelius, retrieved 2024-11-12

Sources

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Further reading

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Event studies

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Aftermath

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37°36′16″N 99°17′37″W / 37.604316°N 99.293488°W / 37.604316; -99.293488

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