On a typical Saturday night, Raina’s Sports Lounge was bustling with regulars enjoying a drink. Suddenly, the building walls began to collapse around them. With more than a dozen people inside, including Raina herself, they were all trapped under five feet of debris.
Raina expressed hope that her friend, who had been her long-time customer and friend, had found a breathing hole like she had and that their passing was quick. The moments of uncertainty and fear weighed heavily on her as she lay trapped, unsure if she would make it out alive.
After being trapped for 45 minutes, first responders were able to rescue everyone except for one person – Raina’s friend and customer. 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.
