More than 20 months after an F-5 tornado devastated the south-central Kansas town of Greensburg, the community is still struggling to rebuild.

Several KU students visited Greensburg over the weekend to help with the recovery effort. The trip was part of the Presidential Inaugural Committee’s effort to push Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a national day of service.

Matt Deighton, volunteer coordinator for the South Central Kansas Tornado Recovery Organization, said the work performed went a long way in helping Greensburg residents.

“I think some of the kids were really touched by what they did,” Deighton said. “It was kind of cool to see the teamwork they had going on. It was impressive.”

Chelsea Mertz, Topeka junior and a coordinator for the National Day of Service, led a group of 17 KU students in Greensburg. Mertz said students involved with LeaderShape and Engineers Without Borders participated in the project.

Students spent six hours in Greensburg and, in addition to volunteering, were given a guided tour of the town.

Tyler Enders, Leawood sophomore, said he was struck by the amount of visible destruction.

“They haven’t even finished the clean-up process, even though it’s been over a year,” Enders said.

Enders said interacting with Greensburg residents was a highlight of the trip.

“Those who remain feel very fortunate and very optimistic about the future,” Enders said.

Jordan Cox, Mulvane sophomore, said the group helped with clearing debris still left from the tornado from residential properties.

“We were given a really simple task,” Cox said. “We felt we could have done a lot more, but we were glad to help.”

Cox described the town as desolate, and the volunteer community as “lifeless.”

Of the 1,478 people living in Greensburg before the tornado struck, Deighton said 775 remained.

“A lot of people who originally left town have come back to see Greensburg, and have been struck by all the progress, and decided they want to move back home,” Deighton said.

Deighton said the absence of businesses was the biggest concern of the recovery effort.

“We have to build businesses in order to make it feasible for people to want to live here,” Deighton said. “There’s no pharmacy, no barber shop or beauty salon. Once we have those essentials, people will be more inclined to come back.”

Deighton said that Greensburg would eventually be one of the most self-sustaining cities in the world by using geothermal, solar and wind energy and other green technologies.

“This is going to be like living on the moon,” Deighton said. “Where else can you walk downtown to a city hall that’s off the grid?”

Deighton said Greensburg relied on volunteer services to aid in the continuing rebuilding process.

“Even if you’re here for only an hour, you can really help out,” Deighton said.

— — Edited by Melissa Johnson