Tornado Aftermath, Picher OK - Day 4

My Top 3

I followed around Stan Boyner yesterday (May 17, 200 and he was kind enough to let me shoot some of the recovery effort in and around where his home is now located (a full plot south of where the home originally stood. He was able to salvage his grandfather’s shotgun from the rubble immediately under the steel frame that his home was sitting atop of.

To answer my father’s question, the EPA has already conducted ground and air quality analysis, as well as sent in the filters from the PM10 collectors to the Dallas office, all results have come back negative for toxicity and particulate matter of Asbestos, Lead and Zinc. John A., a contractor for FEMA, was one of five inspectors allowing residents to place themselves on a federal grant list to receive up to $28,000 USD for living expenses, repairs to homes still standing, and personal effects replacement. While the town is still being bought out by the fed, they’re going to be relocated to any place of their choice, because instead of simply building gov’t housing in Cardin or any of the other neighboring towns, they’ll simply hand ‘em a cheque when they can get to it, and the residents are free to find housing anywhere else in the U.S.A.

I’d also like to send a personal shout-out to Geri and Rob in Picher, thanks for your hospitality, and the warm hearts that opened up to allow us into your home at such a greatly emotional time. We had a wonderful evening, and hope to cross paths in the future. Can’t wait to hear from you both soon!