I think we've been mesmerized by the story of Greensburg, KS - the small town in western Kansas that is all but gone due to a tornado hitting last weekend. I don't think you can really appreciate the magnitude of the destruction or story without having lived in the midwest at some point. Andrea & I both grew up in what is known as "Tornado Alley" - a section of Kansas & Oklahoma (and other midwest states) that historically gets hit with more major tornados than any other part of the country (see image below):



I've been fortunate enough to never have been in a tornado (not for lack of close calls: "Another Close Call", "Tornado Near Miss", "Day and Night"). I heard one pastor from the town say on Good Morning America on Sunday that when they heard the tornado sirens they took a DVD and went downstairs to their finished basement to watch a movie - hearing the sirens was a regular occurrence and something that they probably didn't take seriously enough because of the regularity. All I can say is, "been there, done that." You never don't take it seriously at all, because you know the danger posed, but when you hear tornado sirens multiple times each year I think you just never think it will actually hit.

Here's a good look at the level of destruction on the town:

• Aerial Photos of Greensburg Tornado Damage

Our prayers go out to everyone in the town of Greensburg, to those who have lost loved ones and friends in this tragedy, and to the continued work of the mayor and city officials as they work to rebuild this small town. Small towns have a hard enough time surviving, let alone having to rebuild 95% of the city after a storm like this.