Already Rebuilding After Tornado, Piedmont Family Hit By Arsonist

One year ago Thursday a tornado outbreak in central Oklahoma killed nine people, including two young brothers in Piedmont. Now, another family who suffered through the tornado was hit again, by arsonists.

"It was right here. It was nasty. Blackest, meanest lookin' thing I ever saw in my life," Piedmont Tornado Survivor, Tim Pischel said. "It's been a rough year. We're just making it. It's just not home. It's a whole new story, another year in life."

It's tough to imagine, but just after the tornado, Pischel's story only got worse.

"Lost everything. Then 2 weeks later, someone burnt the rest of it to the ground," said Pischel.

The family lost the small amount of clothes and keepsakes left in the rubble. Pischel thinks it was looters, but no one was ever caught.

"Someone stole what they wanted and torched the house."

Support from family, neighbors and even strangers poured in, making it an easy decision to pour a new foundation and hang "Old Glory" on a new home.

"When they raised the roof, I put [the flag] up on the roof. That's just me."

The road here hasn't been easy for the Pischels. And though the home isn't quite ready, the family knows this is where they belong.

"Trying to do it myself. We're doing what we can."

If you would like to help any of the families still struggling to rebuild after the tornado, visit the Piedmont First United Methodist website or call them at (405) 373-2298.

The church's pastor, Sam Powers, says some families haven't started rebuilding, some need debris clean-up help and others are in limbo with insurance and not sure what to do now.