I had great plans to write a column for this quarter's newsletter on the many housing issues we have been discussing in this community over the past few months.  However, as with many things in city government, priorities can turn on a dime.  And that is what happened as I woke on the morning of Saturday, May 5th and heard that the community of Greensburg had been hit hard by a tornado.

 

On that Saturday evening, when I saw the first pictures of the devastation in Greensburg my heart sank.  The community was gone.  No more Main Street buildings, no more school, no more churches.  Questions began to run through my mind as I thought about what I would do in their shoes.  Where do they begin to recover?

 

I imagined if Parsons had been hit like this.  I would have no home and none of my staff would either.  I would be expected to lead the City in its clean-up and recovery efforts, but my own life would have been devastated.  There would be no City Hall, no hospital, no schools, no businesses, no restaurants, no gas stations, and no grocery store.

 

Then I began to think about how we could rebuild.  How would we keep people from moving away from the city?  How would we get businesses to commit to rebuilding when no one knows how much of a city will be there in a year?  How do you rebuild an economy from scratch?

 

I, as many of you, have asked myself these and many other questions since that day.  The conclusion I have come to is that you don't rebuild a community on profit models or population projections.  You rebuild a community on people.

 

There will be a Greensburg, Kansas in the future because the community is committed to preserving its history and memories, its way of life, and its identity.  While money will pour in from all over the state and nation to help in this effort, these people will give of themselves completely to save their community.

 

Parsons demonstrated an amazing resolve and cooperative spirit in recovering from its tragedy in 2000.  And the community has rebounded so well that most people regard it as somewhat of a blessing and a new beginning for this city.

 

So why does it take a disaster to generate that resolve and commitment to a community? If we care so much for our community that we would dedicate years of hard work and selfless effort to rebuild what we could easily walk away from, why do we take it for granted until its gone?  I don't know.  Human nature I guess.  But it has reminded me that I don't fully appreciate the little things in life like I should.

 

So as I encourage all citizens of Parsons to provide whatever they can to the relief effort in Greensburg, just as Parsons received assistance from thousands of people and organizations, I also encourage you to think about what your community really means to you.  If you would sacrifice endless hours to save your community once it is gone, will you volunteer a few hours a month now to help it while it is still here?  There are dozens of ways each of us can get involved in our community and I hope that we all will think about what we can do to make Parsons a better place for us all.