Mayor Waltner said, "There are a lot of heroes out there. Presented a dangerous challenge, many rose to it . . . Our community was liberally sprinkled with people who responded heroically, and by so doing, saved lives and reduced injuries" (Tornado 121). The following people are a few of these individuals who put themselves on the line for their community:

• Pulling over on the strip of I-135 west of Hesston, an off-duty fireman paused on his return-trip to his McPherson residence in order to advise a group of terrified people to take cover under a bridge. They followed his directions just a few seconds before the tornado passed over the interstate.

• Hesston policemen with loudspeakers, impelling individuals to take shelter, were still driving through the city when--less than 300 feet from their patrol cars--the tornado hit the town’s western edge.

• Employees and patrons were fascinated by the ensuing scene that could be viewed through the windows of Pizza Hut, but the manager commanded them to take shelter in the restaurant's walk-in refrigerator--a moment before the tornado tore the building apart.

Media weather people, storm spotters, Sheriff’s Deputies, those responsible to activate the tornado sirens, and local police and ambulance departments who helped to provide detail and urgent warning to our people. I have no question that if they had not performed such a well coordinated job in Hesston we would have buried numerous of our friends and neighbors, while at the same time trying to clear and rebuild our community. On March 13, 1990, the warning system, the cooperation county-wide of emergency response professionals, and the courageous acts of numerous citizens meshed. The results helped to reduce injury and loss of life and has, importantly, set a positive tone for long term recovery.