The Greensburg 2007 Tornado Crisis: Extension Agents Make Sense of Informational Needs, Information Seeking Behaviors and Information Satisfaction

Abstract

This study investigates the informational needs, information seeking behavior, and information satisfaction of two Kansas State Research and Extension agents as they experienced the 2007 tornado that destroyed Greensburg, Kansas and its aftermath. Extension agents were interviewed and areas of cognitive dissonance were noted as agents made sense of the tornado crisis. A description-rich narrative shares their experiences before, during and after the crisis. Data from the interviews transcripts, field notes and documents were coded at two levels: the four crisis intervals (prodromal, acute, chronic and resolution) and look-think-act categories for personal, family, employee and community responses. As the agents tell their story of helping to rebuild the Greensburg community, a picture emerges of what information was needed, where the information was found, the value or lack of value of the information, and what information was needed but never obtained.