A year of hardship for Sulphur tornado survivors
SULPHUR, OKLA (KFOR) — It’s been a week since that deadly tornado ripped through Sulphur and survivors are still sharing more about the devastating night including one family who’s already had a tough year. The storm added another piece in the puzzle.
“I immediately went to the bathroom, which is in the back center of the house and barely made it in there. Everything just started crashing down around us,” said Jennifer Johnston who survived the tornado.
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Jennifer Johnston remembered Saturday’s tornado vividly.
“We were prepared, but we weren’t expecting it to come so close,” said Johnston.
In February last year, Johnston moved back to Sulphur with plans to move into the same house she lived in once before when she was younger.
Things were looking up, until last May, when her family got news they never wanted to hear.
“My son, Christopher, was injured last year in May with traumatic brain injuries; a steel wrench hit him in the head and crushed his skull,” said Johnston.
She said Christopher has had seven surgeries.
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Throughout his recovery, renovations started on the home and a couple months ago, the family finally moved in, until it was destroyed in the storm last week.
“We had a hard time getting out because everything was blocked,” said Johnston.
Once Johnston made it out with Christopher and his daughter, they made it across the street for safety, not knowing what the newly renovated home would look like the next day.
“It’s so heartbreaking and so devastating because we have worked so hard on it. I wanted to be here forever and my intention was to do that,” said Johnston.
A tough year filled with recovery and ruined renovations, but Johnston said that’s not enough to tear her family down.
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“As heartbreaking as it is, we look at the positive side and it’s just a new start. That’s kind of how we’ve had to look at everything over the last year or so,” said Johnston.
Johnston also said she’s been overwhelmed with how the community and others have responded to helping the whole town with donations and aid.
If you’d like to help their family, there’s a go fund me set up here.
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