'We're Going To Rebuild': Despite Tornado Damage, Sulphur City Leaders Continue Recovery Operations

In Sulphur, city organizers say the goal is to clean up and start over. No easy task, but community leaders say are determined.

Tuesday, April 30th 2024, 5:34 am

By: Jordan Ryan

SULPHUR, Okla. -

Recovery operations continue in Sulphur Tuesday morning after storms ripped across the state, with multiple tornadoes leaving a path of destruction behind.

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In Sulphur, city organizers say the goal is to clean up and start over. No easy task, but community leaders say are determined.

Most of the businesses in the downtown area in Sulphur were decimated by storms Saturday night, with dozens of homes in area also heavily damaged.

"Our history, our soul... it's gone," Sulphur city manager Andy Freeman said. "We're going to rebuild it even if we have to bulldoze it all down. Streets, sidewalks, curbs, we're going to rebuild it."

Sulphur Public Schools has been temporarily closed, although school administrators say they hope to welcome students back later this week.

Sulphur Public Schools superintendent Matt Holder said more than half their students take the bus, and their bus barn was completely destroyed.

Nearby Davis Public Schools has stepped in to loan busses to a track team in Sulphur on Monday so they could attend a meet.

The American Red Cross will be in town providing meals, shelter and aid, and several other non-profits are in town hard at work.

Tuesday afternoon, Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt and Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Deanne Criswell will be in the town to survey the damage.

The Chickasha Nation is setting up a medical van on the north side of the Artesian Hotel to be used as an urgent care facility. It is free for anybody.