By TIM UNRUH

Salina Journal

CHAPMAN -- For 30 minutes or more, a shattered community gathers for news and encouragement, and the messenger is Doug Thompson.

From his perch on a flatbed trailer, the Chapman city attorney leads his people in chants of "We are ... Chapman," cheers and makes daily announcements about everything from curfews to requirements for construction workers.

He is the delegated spokesman as the town recovers from Wednesday night's savage tornado.

On Friday, Saturday and Monday, victims of the storm migrated from working at their personal storm-wrecked property to the tennis courts downtown.

They gathered at 4 p.m. to share stories of the storm that did an estimated $70 million in damage to the town, leveled homes and mangled churches and schools. The next meeting is Wednesday -- same time and place.

Calling himself "kind of a cheerleader," Thompson steps up, grabs a microphone and invigorates.

"They need a rallying point, and help to get through it. That's part of it," said Thompson.

He is a mediator between residents and town leaders, and a morale booster, said Eric Keating, president of the Chapman school board.

"Doug's doing great. He's certainly an asset to our community," Keating said. "When I watched him, I thought it was like he was hosting a major production on TV."

Tina Schlappy, a charge nurse at Chapman Valley Manor, lost the house she lived in to the tornado. She attended the Friday town meeting and appreciated Thompson's information.

"He's trying to keep everything organized. He's doing a very good job," Schlappy said.

His roots go deep

Although a resident of Abilene, Thompson's ties to Chapman run deep. He's a 1965 graduate of Chapman High School.

Thompson owns the Kansas Auto Racing Museum, where volunteers who have flocked to Chapman register before lending a hand. More than 950 were in town Saturday and 300 Sunday.

There were 100 volunteers Monday morning, said Scott Hildebrand, Topeka, an attorney for the League of Kansas Municipalities, and a former Chapman city attorney. He is helping out the Chapman city government, along with clerks and other staff members from area Kansas cities.

Thompson was in Chapman Wednesday night when the EF 3 tornado cut a devastating swath through the town of 1,260. Half the homes in town were either damaged or destroyed.

Thompson drove as far he could toward downtown, and then proceeded on foot.

He and emergency workers were among the first persons that people saw as they emerged from their homes.

All were yelling "Are you OK?" and "What about your neighbors?" Thompson said. "I was just there to help out. There was tremendous response from all the emergency agencies."

Crystal P. Bishop was killed in the storm and three others were severely injured.

Bishop's funeral was Monday in Junction City. She will buried Friday in Newport, Tenn.

Needed a leader

As town leaders huddled to plan their disaster response, Thompson was a clear choice to maintain a sense of community, Hildebrand said.

"We needed a spokesman. It was easy to point to Doug and say 'Hey, you're going to be the man.' He's someone people know and respect and will try to help bring them together," Hildebrand said. "He goes over and above his duty."

When he first appeared on stage, Thursday, Thompson said "Man, I'm glad to see you all."

Recovery will take a long time, he admits, but there have been small victories to celebrate, such as when utilities are restored to parts of town.

But the stark reality is that a big part of Chapman is in bad shape.

"Naturally, the frustration will begin to settle in. People are a little past the emotional stage. They're tired, and wanting to move forward," Thompson said.

On Monday, city crews began hauling debris to the Dickinson County Landfill and to the Blixt Construction/Demolition and Tire Landfill south of Chapman.

People whose homes were destroyed or so badly damaged that they can't inhabit them are staying with family and friends. An emergency shelter closed after Friday night.

Thompson said he's fed off of the enthusiasm exhibited in Chapman.

"The people are determined. They're a good group of hard-working people," he said. "They will recover."

n Reporter Tim Unruh can be reached at 822-1419 or by e-mail at tunruh@salina.com.