As the storm raged through downtown Sulphur, local business owner Raina Valkoun found herself fighting for her life and the lives of her customers. It was a typical Saturday night at Raina’s Sports Lounge, with many regulars gathered to enjoy a drink. But suddenly, the building walls began to crumble around them. With more than a dozen people inside, Valkoun was buried under five feet of debris.
Raina recounted the moments of uncertainty and fear as she lay trapped, unsure if she would make it out alive. 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.
Despite the devastating loss of her friend and her business, Raina is grateful to be alive. 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.
As Raina rebuilds her business and tries to move forward from this traumatic experience, she knows that it won’t be easy. But she also knows that she has a strong community behind her, ready to support her through thick and thin. And that gives her hope for a brighter future ahead.