On May 21, 2024, a violent and deadly EF-4 tornado struck the town of Greenfield leaving a path of debris in its wake. The tornado may have torn through our neighborhoods, but it did not tear apart our spirit. Less than 24 hours later, Iowans came together to help pick up the pieces and clear debris – starting the rebuilding process.
Recovery has been long, but a little more than four months later, Greenfield is building back stronger than ever.
Yesterday, I attended a fundraiser to support the Greenfield Fire Department as they continue their efforts to rebuild after the tornado and to check-in with constituents as they rebuild – one brick, one beam, one step at a time. Throughout the day I heard countless stories of perseverance, love for their community, and so many tales about heroism that will be told to future generations of kids who reside in this small town. The road to recovery may be long, but every journey begins with a single step, and we are taking that step together. And in the future, when we look back on this time, may we not remeber the destruction. Instead, may we remebeter the courage, kindness, and the extraordinary way the community came together to rebuild Greenfield and restore our hope for the future.
If you were impacted by the Greenfield tornado and need help with recovery, please visit projectrecoveryiowa.org.