As the storm raged through downtown Sulphur, local business owner Raina Valkoun was fighting for her life and the lives of her customers. It was a typical Saturday night at Raina’s Sports Lounge with many regulars enjoying a drink, but suddenly the building walls began to collapse around them. With more than a dozen people inside, Valkoun was buried under five feet of debris.
After being trapped for 45 minutes, first responders were able to rescue everyone except one of Valkoun’s long-time friends and customers who did not survive. Raina expressed hope that her friend had found a breathing hole like she had and that their passing was quick. She recounted the moments of uncertainty and fear as she lay trapped, unsure if she would make it out alive.
Raina is grateful to be alive despite the devastating loss of her friend and her business. She expressed gratitude for surviving and witnessing the resilience of the community in the face of such destruction. State officials reported around 30 injuries from the storm, with about half of those occurring at Raina’s Sports Lounge. The incident has left an impact on Raina and her patrons, but they are thankful for the safety of those who survived.