Local Officials Offer Words Of Hope For Those Impacted By Sulphur Tornado
About 150 people gathered in downtown Sulphur Sunday for a day of hope, healing and remembrance.
Sunday marked the oneyear anniversary of the strong, EF-3 tornado that devastated downtown, Chickasaw National RecreationArea, large residential sections and the loss of one life.
Several speakers were on hand to update the crowd about the night and the days following the tragedy up to the present.
Vice-Mayor Alan McKay welcomed those in attendance prior to Crossway Church Pastor Bill Leveridge delivering a few remarks and giving the opening prayer.
The National Anthem, provided by Zac Priest, was played with attendees standing in front of a huge American Flag hanging from the Sulphur Fire Department ladder truck.
Remembering the loss of life of Sheila Goodman, First Free Will Pastor Dick Terry held a moment of silence in honor of the Goodman and Hilliard families, then offered a prayer.
Sulphur Fire Chief Pete Haines took the stage recalling the night and days that followed the tornado and gave high praise to all the first responders not only locally but in surrounding areas for their immediate response, heroism and courage. Haines also praised the Murray County dispatchers who were keeping their composure and remaining calm to answer calls and direct help where it was needed. Haines said city workers were also crucial that night, showing up and removing debris, trees and whatever necessary to allow first responders to get where they were needed.
Haines said early on after the tornado, people came from all across the state to show the “Oklahoma Standard” which quickly become “Sulphur Strong.”
Said Haines, “Let’s don’t let the tornado define Sulphur, but remember how we came together as a community, as people and as families and how we showed strength that night.”
Haines closed his comments with the same remark he made to the news media the day after the tornado: “Sulphur Strong—I promise you we will be back.”
Murray County EMS Director Brad Lancaster told the crowd a nighttime tornado is one of the scariest events to face and Sulphur
“Sulphur Strong—I promise you we will be back.”
-- FIRE CHIEF PETE HAINES faced it head-on.
Reflections
The storm hit at 10:23 p.m. on April 27, 2024 with winds up to 165 mph. The tornado covered 10 miles and was one the ground for 14 minutes. It affected 18 city blocks of residences, a major part of the national recreation area and devastated the historic downtown. Lancaster said he is proud to be a part of this community and its outpouring of help for each other.
Murray County Emergency Management Director Brian McDaniel reiterated the accolades given by Haines and Lancaster. McDaniel also told those in attendance that FEMA is still active in Sulphur and help is still here on the ground if citizens are still needing assistance. If you still have needs and don’t know where to turn, McDaniel encouraged citizens to reach out to him and he will try to get them in touch with the right entity.
Other speakers included Chickasaw National Recreation Park Superintendent Devon Bradley, Chickasaw Nation Executive Officer of Self Governance Kyle Key and Jeff Flowers, Chairman of the Sulphur Recovery Task Force.
Mayor Darrell Cole thanked everyone involved in the tornado recovery and those who were involved in the “Hope and Healing” Remembrance Ceremony.
Before the closing payer, given by Manny Cantu of the Faith Center Church, attendees were treated to the sounds of the TJ Todd Band. In the first few days following the tornado, Todd wrote a song entitled, “This Ole Town.” The song sums up the Sulphur Strong standard, when faced with adversity.
The ceremony, which lasted about an hour, was held at the site of the devastated downtown plaza on West Muskogee St., which among some of the first structures to be hit when the tornado plowed a path through the historic district.
