FEMA Packing Up In Picher

Putting the deadly tornado behind them, the town of Picher says goodbye while FEMA closes up shop. Six weeks ago Saturday, a large part of the town was destroyed by a powerful, EF-4 twister.

The News On 6's Steve Berg reports FEMA says it appears that most people who need help, have gotten their applications and so the agency will officially close its disaster headquarters in Picher.

Small towns are always kind of quiet, but as you drive through Picher, there are almost no signs of activity. Still here and there, you will find some residents going through their homes, looking for belongings amid the damage.

Donna Reeves roots go about as deep as anyone's in Picher. She was born there and her dad worked for the fire department.

"He was fire chief and he was killed, fighting fires.  My husband took over, and then our sons and grandsons.  It's just kind of a family, my brother was a firefighter here for awhile," said Reeves.

In fact, she went back on Saturday for a rose bush that her father had started at his house, and that they transplanted at her family's home.

"We thought it was gone, right after the storm, but it's coming back out.  It's over there, right by the storm cellar," said Reeves.

Listening to her, it sounds like it doesn't hurt as much to lose her home as it does to lose her hometown.

"That's the hard thing.  But we'll be OK," said Reeves.

Picher of course has been in the process of a federal buyout because of the toxic Superfund site. Businesses have dwindled to just the bank and the funeral home and the tornado only sped the town's demise.

"It is really quiet today," said FEMA's Winston Barton.

Barton believes they've taken applications for assistance from everyone who needs one and they're shutting down the office there.

"We are going to leave a representative here for at least another week.  The SBA is going to be here for up to maybe a month," said Barton.

The Reeves have already moved into a house in nearby Commerce. They just decided to make one last try to find some keepsakes.

"My husband, he had a firefighter's ring that our sons and I bought him, and we haven't found it, and we're just kind of hoping.  But I don't think it's here," said Reeves.

But they have the rose bush, and when they put down new roots in Commerce, they'll do the same with it.

"I've got several rose bushes at the house in Commerce.  But I want a start of that one, because Daddy got it started to begin with," said Reeves.

Even though the FEMA office is officially closing, there will be some people there for another week or so. They want to emphasize they have a number that people can call even after they've left town here. The number is 1-800-621-FEMA.