As the storm hit downtown Sulphur, Raina Valkoun was busy running her bar, Raina’s Sports Lounge. Suddenly, the walls began to crumble, and she found herself trapped inside with her customers. With over a dozen people in the building, including herself, it took 45 minutes for first responders to rescue everyone.
One of her long-time friends and customers did not make it out alive. Raina expressed her grief over the loss of both her friend and business while being thankful for surviving the ordeal. She recounted the terror of being trapped and uncertain of her fate, hoping that her friend had also made it through the storm.
Despite the devastation, Raina was grateful to still be alive and witness others who had survived as well. State officials reported approximately 30 injuries from the storm, with about half of those occurring in Raina’s bar. The impact of the storm had a profound effect on Raina and her community, leaving them to cope with loss while being grateful for the gift of life.
Raina’s Sports Lounge owner Raina Valkoun described a typical Saturday night at her bar with many regulars when suddenly, the walls began to cave in trapping them inside.
Over a dozen people were in Raina’s Sports Lounge when the building started to collapse. Valkoun was buried under five feet of debris as state officials reported approximately 30 injuries from the storm, with about half of those occurring in her bar.
Raina expressed her grief over losing a long-time friend and customer while being thankful for surviving herself.
Despite the devastation caused by the storm on both her life and business, she remained hopeful that others had also made it through unscathed.
As she reflected on what happened that night, she couldn’t help but feel grateful for every moment she had been given.
