A storm hit downtown Sulphur, trapping customers and the owner of Raina’s Sports Lounge inside the building. The owner, Raina Valkoun, described a typical Saturday night at her bar with many regulars when suddenly, the walls started to collapse. In total, over a dozen people were trapped inside when the building began to crumble.
Valkoun was buried under five feet of debris and it took 45 minutes for first responders to rescue everyone. Unfortunately, one of her long-time friends and customers did not make it out alive. Despite the devastation, Valkoun expressed gratitude for surviving the ordeal and being able to witness others who had also survived the storm.
The impact of the storm left many in Raina’s community with injuries, with approximately 30 reported. About half of these injuries occurred at Raina’s bar. The loss and grief experienced by Valkoun and her community have left them struggling to cope with their emotions while also being grateful for life.
