Clearing Our Heads in Greensburg, Kansas...

Nancy Bose looks at the Dillon's store used as a triage base last May 4th.

May 4th, 2008. After one year, today we went back to Greensburg, Kansas.

The town has made many great strides, and barring today's celebration marking the one year anniversary, it still would look like a ghost town. Homes are slowly going up, and being repaired, main street downtown has a building here and there. City Hall is a modular trailer. Foundation slabs outnumber new construction, but the spirit is there.

Under a brilliant blue sky, today thousands of people from all over the United States visited Greensburg, Kansas to show theirs support for the remaining residents. Bikers lined the main Street to the high school holding flags, making a path for President Bush to follow to Greensburg High School for a commencement address. The flags. which flew straight out in a stiff breeze reminiscent of May 4th, 2007.

Our MESO members returned to show our support and donate a plaque in honor of the 12 people that died in the EF5 tornado. Five of us returned for another reason, to clear our heads of deep memories that have played over and over again daily since the night we skirted the tornado, cheated death and limped into the destroyed town of Greensburg, just minutes after the tornado wiped out 95% of the small rural town.

Some of us have sought counseling, some received it on the job and some of us thought we could handle it and went on with our daily lives. As the trip and anniversary approached, I found it harder and harder to deal with. Memories were triggered by the photos I took that night, smells, and in short, I had a few bad timed bouts of anxiety. I felt dread. I wanted to go back, but I didn't. I woke up from a deep sleep and was afraid to go back to sleep. Last night I just was afraid. Members of our group had a hear to heart with me, Nancy Bose hugged me, talked to me, and really helped me through the tough time.

Today as we drove into Greensburg, the feelings welled up, we have never seen the town in the daylight after the tornado, we had only stumbled through the rubble filled town in the pitch dark. I was amazed at the wide open town. The lack of homes and the stripped, bushy trees. As I shot photos, the fear and dread drifted away, my camera became a barrier between me and the reality of Greensburg, Kansas' past. The journalist in me kicked in as it did last May. I know I will sleep better now. I felt a relief as we drove out on West SR 54 toward Dodge City, exactly as we did last year on or way to get into position for a chase on Monday. It's back to business for the MESO chase team.

Something to note, yesterday was also the nine year anniversary of the F5
May 3rd, 1999 tornado in Oklahoma, City. I covered that tornado also, but seeing the human toll first hand in Greensburg, has left a lasting impression on me that I will never forget.

Kansas State Trooper Steve Little watches as President Bush flies into Greensburg, Kansas in Marine One.