As rain battered downtown Sulphur, a local business owner found herself fighting for her life and that of her customers. Raina Valkoun, owner of Raina’s Sports Lounge, described a typical Saturday night at her bar with many regulars huddled together for warmth and camaraderie. But as the storm grew stronger, the walls began to crumble, trapping them all inside.
Over a dozen people were in the lounge when the building started to collapse, with Valkoun buried under five feet of debris. It took 45 minutes for first responders to rescue everyone, but one long-time friend and customer did not make it out alive.
Raina Valkoun expressed her grief over the loss of her friend and business while being thankful for surviving the ordeal. She recounted the harrowing experience of being trapped and uncertain of her fate, hoping that her friend found a way to survive as well. Despite the devastation, Raina was grateful to still be alive and witness others who had survived the storm.
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.
