Virtually the entire town was devastated by the tornado that struck without warning. just as a preschool graduation was taking place. The shortterm needs of the people are overwhelming. Temporary housing. crisis counseling. and other forms of immediate assistance are necessary. Given the poverty of the area. longterm assistance will be necessary as well. But the people of west Texas are not quitters. They are not going to give up on the dream of rebuilding their community. It is their town. a real town. not a hamlet or a migrant workers camp as the news media mistakenly reported. After some initial delays. Federal assistance is beginning to flow.