It also got an opportunity, Mayor John Janssen says.

This rural county seat 109 miles west of Wichita has made "green" its rebuilding mantra, declaring itself a national model for environmentally conscious living — and winning attention and resources in the process.

"The tornado was one of the biggest blessings to hit our town," Janssen says. "We were like every other town in the Rust Belt and the Midwest. We were dying a slow, agonizing death. Suddenly, we don't have a town. So we're rebuilding a new green town."

The decision to rebuild in an environment-friendly manner is not just about feeling good, he says. Environmentally conscious design can cost more up front, but the costs are made up through energy savings, he says. The city hopes to attract new residents and businesses committed to green living.

"We've got green industry that has been looking for a green community to locate into," he says. He didn't go into specifics. "The contacts we've made boggle the imagination."

About 1,400 people lived in Greensburg before the twister, working mostly in agriculture, oil, gas and trucking. The town's main attractions were "the world's largest hand-dug well" and a 1,000-pound meteorite. Both survived.

After most of the homes and businesses were wiped out, the population fell to about 700, says Kim Alderfer, assistant city administrator. About 140 families live in Federal Emergency Management Agency trailers, and 141 homes are under construction or completed. The water tower went up in March.