Picher | In brief

The southern half of the town was all but bulldozed by the storm. Emergency management officials said they counted at least 101 homes that were demolished by the tornado, and they're not finished searching.

John Sparkman, director of the Picher Housing Authority, said 295 homes were leveled. He based that number on a comparison between aerial photographs taken before the storm and on-the-ground observations.

Before a federal pollution buyout began, about 1,000 people lived in the town. More than 200 homes have been vacated since the program started — a fact celebrated by many people who said the death toll otherwise might have been much higher. Before the buyout, there were about 700 buildings in Picher, according to city officials.

Picher's main street, which has felt like a ghost town since the mining companies left, was not hit by the storm. Some houses on the north side of town, and the town's school complex, were also spared.

Sparkman said the school superintendent, who could not be reached, told him that school will not resume this year. Sparkman also said it's not likely the school will reopen.