Picher Oklahoma Tornado

On Saturday May 10, 2008, Tornadoes swept through the contaminated mining town of Picher, Oklahoma and leveled a more than twenty block area of town. Seven people have lost their lives to the deadly tornado in Picher and another twelve are known to be dead in neighboring Missouri. The tornado left the town of Picher and traveled 15 miles to Seneca, Missouri, killing an additional ten people.

The National Weather Service believes eight Tornadoes were responsible for the Oklahoma devastation.

Fast Facts

1. Winds were thought to have reached 165 to 175 mph
2. 150 Homes were reported damaged on the south side of town
3. Many homes were vacant resulting in fewer deaths
4. An infant was killed in the storm
5. At least three people are missing
6. Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry has dispatched major emergency teams to the area
7. President Bush has offered Federal aid to the ravished areas

Pollution-Scarred Picher

Picher has lost many of it's families due to zinc and lead pollution caused by the mining business that supported the town. Prior to the known contamination, the population was 20,000 and at the time the tornado hit, it had been reduced to roughly 800 people. The Federal Government stepped in with the offer of a voluntary buy-out after the area was named as a Superfund site. The city currently survives without city water or a police department.

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