[meteorite-list] 1000-Pound Meteorite Recovered in Tornado Ruins in Greensburg, Kansas

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu, 10 May 2007 08:40:55 -0700 (PDT)
Message-ID: <200705101540.IAA00664_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

http://www.nypost.com/seven/05082007/news/nationalnews/meteorite_found_in_tornado_ruins_nationalnews_.htm

METEORITE FOUND IN TORNADO RUINS
Associated Press

May 8, 2007 -- GREENSBURG, Kan. - A million-dollar space rock on display
in tornado-devastated Greensburg, has been recovered from a wrecked
building.

The world's largest pallasite meteorite was found underneath a wall,
undamaged by the tornado. The rock is insured for $1 million.

Rescue teams searching the rubble also found a survivor and two more
victims, raising the tornado death toll to at least 10, authorities said
yesterday.

The twister, with winds estimated at 205 mph, was part of a weekend of
violent storms that tore across the Plains and were also blamed for two
other deaths in Kansas.

Little remained standing in Greensburg but the grain elevator as the
1,500 residents were allowed back in to check their property yesterday.

The tornado demolished every business on the main street. Churches lost
steeples, trees were stripped of branches, and neighborhoods were
flattened. Officials estimate as much as 95 percent of the town was
destroyed.

One of the latest victims was found under debris in the middle of town,
City Administrator Steve Hewitt said. The other body was pulled from a
nearby lake.

Rescue teams also found a survivor as they searched the wreckage Sunday,
two days after the tornado hit, giving hope other survivors would be
found, said Kansas Highway Patrol spokesman Ron Knoefel.

He did not release the survivor's name or condition, and authorities had
not identified any of the victims.

Since the tornado hit Friday night, emergency responders have had little
indication of how many people may be safely staying with friends or
relatives, rather than in shelters.
Received on Thu 10 May 2007 11:40:55 AM PDT