Amidst the chaos of storms that hit downtown Sulphur, business owner Raina Valkoun found herself fighting for her life and the lives of her customers. It was just a typical Saturday night at Raina’s Sports Lounge, with many regulars enjoying a drink, when suddenly the building walls began to collapse around them. Trapped inside with more than a dozen people, 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.
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.