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Environment
Environment Main Global Warming Natural Disasters Habitats FRESHWATER

Widespread Damage, Kansas

Photo: Aerial view of tornado destruction

A view from above shows few buildings were left standing when a powerful tornado roared through Greensburg, Kansas. As measured on the Fujita scale of tornado intensity, an F5 twister is capable of incredible damage. These storms pack winds above 200 miles an hour (320 kilometers an hour) and can lift houses off their foundations, fling cars 320 feet (100 meters), and strip the bark off trees.

Photograph by Orlin Wagner/Associated Press