Out of crisis emerges opportunity, and as a community, Greensburg citizens believe they have the chance to build a stronger, thriving town. On May 4th, 2007, an EF-5 tornado hit Greensburg, a town of 1,389 in Southwestern Kansas. Over the last four decades this small rural farm town has been declining in population with a struggling economic base. In the wake of the disaster it became apparent that big changes would have to occur to sustain the town for future generations. The community set forth to rebuild a prosperous future through sustainable community design.