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 crews conducted curbside pickup of household hazardous waste (HHW) items, picking up more than 3,087 containers of materials, including numerous propane and compressed gas cylinders. These items are being collected at the south staging area. White goods pickup began on May 12, and these items will be transported to the south landfill to be staged prior to Freon recovery.
EPA response contractors stationed at the north landfill assisted Kansas Department of Health and the Environment (KDHE) officials in identifying and segregating hazardous substances brought to the landfill in debris loads. EPA supplied assessment support to KDHE for sampling of three debris burn cells located at the north landfill.
Superfund Technical Assistance Response Team (START) contractors assessed 110 damaged transformer recovery locations and sampled 47 sites for potential PCB contamination. The longitudes and latitudes of an additional 39 damaged transformers were determined by the Global Positioning System and were assessed to determine if PCB oils had been released. Soil samples from the release locations were analyzed using field screening kits by START personnel and members of the Sedgwick County HazMat Team.
Kiowa County Health Department and the Army National Guard contacted EPA to request assistance securing pharmaceuticals located at the Greensburg Hospital. EPA OSCs Davis and Frey along with EPA response contractors responded to secure and stage the materials on the site until the Kiowa County Health Department determines disposal procedures.
EPA OSC Schmaedick met with Americorp volunteer coordinators to provide information for Americorp volunteers involved with residential cleanup assistance and to brief them on procedures for handling HHW and white goods.
Curbside pickup of HHW and white goods continues, and EPA will continue to provide support for HHW and white goods collection at the north landfill. Activities on Sunday morning, May 13, will be limited to the western half of Greensburg due to special church and memorial services being conducted in town.
EPA is coordinating cleanup of hazardous substances at the Greensburg Hospital. Discussions are ongoing with Greensburg Hospital directors and the Kiowa County Health Department.
Aerial photos of areas outside the city of Greensburg are being reviewed for additional abandoned containers.
Disposal of PCB transformers will be coordinated with the city of Greensburg's public utilities after assessment of PCB oil has been completed.
EPA and KDHE are discussing disposition of items with small engines.
Further cleanup at the hospital location will be coordinated with the Greensburg City Health Department and KIOWA County Health Department.
A crewmember from the EPA removal contractor’s curbside collection team was transported to a hospital in Dodge City for treatment after suffering a seizure during cleanup activities on Friday, May 11. The individual was released from the hospital that same day and was demobilized from the site to recover.
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