The following article can be seen in the summer edition of Insurance Information Institute’s Impact newsletter.

Rebuilding Greensburg

When the series of tornados destroyed Greensburg, Kansas and five surrounding counties in May 2007, Lockton Associates immediately asked what could be done to help. After the town evaluated its needs, it was decided that a group of volunteers would travel to Greensburg to assist with rebuilding efforts. Lockton Companies, and insurance broker, has long been known for its community involvement, but its Associates had never tried anything this ambitious before.

Lockton’s Environmental Risk Consultant Matt Pateidl and Kristine Krausse, Community Relations Specialist met with members of the South Central Tornado Recovery Organization (STRCO), the group charged with the clean-up and rebuilding efforts for the entire region, to discuss how Lockton could help. Matt and Kristine conveyed to James Bond of STRCO that Lockton had 80 ready and willing semi-skilled Associates and a number of tools and supplies; they just needed a date for the trip.

When the caravan of Lockton Associates pulled in town Thursday evening they were met by residents and members of STRCO. With the help of STRCO, Lockton was the first corporation to organize a volunteer effort of this magnitude. Most other volunteers had come from relief and church groups. The team toured the town and the two houses and a community center that needed Lockton’s help. All three structures had the foundation poured, the two houses had walls but the community building did not, and none had roofs. The building supplies, siding, roof trusses and two by fours had been purchased through federal grant and homeowner’s insurance money and were at the sites, ready for the Lockton team to start working. Due to limited funds and manpower, the community has relied heavily on volunteer labor for its clean-up and rebuilding efforts.

The Lockton team split up into four separate groups and got to work. One team’s work of cleaning up debris was equally important as the construction projects. Five months after the storm, the volume of debris that was still there astounded the team. They spent the day cleaning up several acres of farmland around the community center site, called Volunteer Village, site. In addition to basic housing and trash debris, the team found crushed farm machinery, billiard balls, eight-track tapes, dolls and toys, and a lot of clothing.

Early one morning, Volunteer Village started as a slab of concrete. Lockton’s team assembled and put up all the walls of the 3,000 square foot community center. By the next evening, Volunteer Village had four completely installed outside walls with siding and paint, all of the roof trusses installed and the appropriate door and window openings complete.

The two houses the Lockton team was working on belong to a father and son, Steve and Brady, respectively. Steve and his wife were living in a FEMA trailer on their construction site. Their son Brady, along with his wife and two children were staying in a house they owned, but used as a rental in Haviland, about ten minutes away. The house Brady and his family lived in before the tornado was the family farmstead. Owned by Steve; it was the house that Steve and subsequently, Brady grew up in.

On both houses, the Lockton team’s main goal was to get the roof trusses up as the concrete was poured and the walls were in place. Late afternoon of the second day all the trusses on the main level were up. The second story still needed to be done. The team was tired and ready to call it day, but Ralph, a Greensburg resident, retired builder and relative of Steve and Brady’s, had been working with the team throughout the day, said ‘Do you have it in you to finish?’ That comment reenergized the team and they worked till sunset and finished all the trusses on the house.

"When the last truss was finally nailed in place, Ralph approached me," Matt remembers of the moment. "I offered my hand and he pulled me into a tremendous hug. It was a great sense of accomplishment to finish the project and help these people after all they have been through."

These projects required massive amounts of team work. Each portion required many steady hands, whether is was carrying the trusses over to the houses; hauling them up to the roofs, keeping them steady to make sure they were straight and level, to nailing them in place. Lockton’s Associates truly worked together with the same mindset; completing the buildings for the residents of Greensburg.

The Lockton team did more than help with clean up and construction of buildings. They also met with residents and listened to their accounts surviving the tornado, heard residents’ memories of their town, and their plans for the future.

Pam Enright, Director of International Benefits, had a special connection to Greensburg and some of its residents. Both of her parents had grown up there and graduated from Greensburg High School back in the 1950s. Two of the town’s businesses are owned and managed by her uncle and his two sons. During the trip, Enright was able to spend time with both of her cousins and hear directly from them how the disaster had affected their lives, families, businesses, and ultimately what it could mean for their future. The family intends to stay in Greensburg and rebuild their businesses, but all admit that the process is slow and painful. They have an amazingly good attitude given their circumstances, and they look at things now as "their new normal," said Pam.

"It was unbelievable, driving into Greensburg that first day. Nearly everything was gone—homes, businesses—even the tops of the trees. It was virtually impossible to get my bearings," recalled Pam. "Greensburg is a small town, and had had beautiful old trees, wide streets and many old, wonderful houses. The tornado literally had ripped it all apart. The fact that there were so few deaths was nearly incomprehensible, given the devastation the tornado caused that day.

"I had some time to search out the lots of land that my family owned. The homes were gone, save a handful of bricks, all that was left were gaping holes in the ground where the foundations had been. It was heartbreaking. As you can imagine, my family is so thankful that Lockton and so many of the Associates gave of their time and effort to help rebuild Greensburg," added Pam.

Lockton’s partnership with Greensburg and its residents has not ended. Tom Metzner, Senior Loss Control Consultant had an opportunity to visit with the Greensburg firefighters and discuss their challenges and needs. Tom worked with Fireman’s Fund’s Heritage Program, which identifies fire departments in need of equipment and tools.With over 15 years as a volunteer firefighter, Tom is keenly aware of the role good equipment and tools play in protecting residents and property.

"Through the Heritage Program, Lockton and Fireman’s Fund purchased a thermal imaging camera for the Greensburg Fire Department," said Tom. "This camera allows firefighters to see in zero visibility conditions, even pitch dark or a room full of smoke. The traditional method of searching a room was crawling on your hands and knees, feeling your way around the room. With the Imaging Camera, a firefighter can stay at the doorway and scan the room to locate victims. This technology has reduced the search time from minutes to mere seconds."

Lockton and Fireman’s Fund presented the camera to the fire department earlier this year. In addition, Mark Henderson, Chief Operating Officer of Lockton’s Kansas City Property Casualty operation has sparked a fundraising campaign that has generated more than $30,000 from Lockton Associates and friends. The "LEAD" Fund, or Lockton Emergence Athletic Department Fund, is funding items that the local high school athletic department needs. It is hope that the fund can touch as many students’ lives as possible and rebuild the sports program. Watching the Greensburg Rangers play football last fall, the Lockton team saw the importance of helping rebuild the school and its sports program, as well as the town.