Severe storms with rain, hail, high winds, and tornadoes moved through eight counties in central/western Kansas during the evening of May 4, 2007. The city of Greensburg and outlying rural areas(Kiowa County, approximately 1,500 residents) was hit directly by an F5 tornado. This particular tornado tracked through six counties (starting in Comanche, Kiowa, Edwards, Stafford, Pratt, and Barton Counties). EPA dispatched three On-Scene Coordinators (OSCs) to the scene with the response truck and mobile command post, and they reported observing scattered miscellaneous hazardous waste, including solvents, paints, propane tanks, chlorine cylinders, anhydrous ammonia tanks, rail tankers, etc.
EPA continued coordination of the cleanup of an overturned tractor trailer containing motor oil and aviation fluid. The responsible party has filled a single truckload of material for transfer off the site and is waiting for a second truck currently en-route.
In coordination with city utilities, EPA continued the development of a map of PCB transformer locations. EPA assessment teams surveyed transformer locations and obtained oil and soil samples in areas affected by transformer oil spills. EPA OSCs Davis and Frey responded to a transformer oil spill near the Greensburg City Court House. Soil samples indicated that the transformer did contain PCB oils. The EPA provided oversight of cleanup activities.
Chemicals were collected from Greensburg High School by EPA removal contractors and staged for transport to the hazardous materials collections pad.
Construction of the Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) and Abandoned Container staging area began at the Kiowa County Roads Department located at 1002 South Grove St. An EPA ID number has been generated for this location. Gravel was delivered to cover both the Grove Street collection pad and the white goods collection pad at the south landfill.
EPA OSC Kroone worked with the EPA Office of External Programs and Greensburg city officials to finalize an HHW information flyer to be distributed to residents impacted by the tornado.
EPA removal contractors assisted with the oversight of segregation of waste materials at the city landfill. Non-flammable materials and hazardous substances will be segregated from loads of incoming debris at the landfill.
Meetings are being held to determine the best course of action for the PCB-containing electrical transformers damaged by the storm.
Planning is being done for the layout of the hazardous materials staging area, along with planning a strategy for HHW collection. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has begun distributing fliers to the local residents instructing them to place their HHW at curbside for pickup and disposal.
EPA is continuing to work with KDHE on the PCB transformer issues by sampling and containerizing and to initiate the pick up of HHW and white goods that have been placed in right-of-ways.
Mapping data from Airborne Spectral Photometry Environmental Collection Technology will be delivered to the command post for incorporation with current Geographic Information System maps.
EPA is continuing to work with KDHE on the PCB transformer issues by sampling and containerizing. They are also continuing the preparation of the HHW staging area and initiating the pickup of HHW and white goods that have been placed at the curb.
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