Sulphur hit hard by storms
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Updated: 10:53 AM Jun 11, 2009
Sulphur hit hard by storms
SULPHUR, OK -- Severe thunderstorms ripped through the city of Sulphur Wednesday afternoon. Winds up to 65 miles an hour knocked down dozens of trees along 7th, 8th and 9th Streets East.
Posted: 10:47 PM Jun 10, 2009
Reporter: Shelby Levins
Email Address: shelby.levinsW@kxii.com
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SULPHUR, OK -- Severe thunderstorms ripped through the city of Sulphur Wednesday afternoon. Winds up to 65 miles an hour knocked down dozens of trees along 7th, 8th and 9th Streets East.

Melinda Greenwood’s home on 8th Street was hit especially hard.

“A big 100-year-old tree fell on the top,” Greenwood explained. “And I had a hackberry tree that fell on the back.”

Greenwood is just one of the many Sulphur residents with damage to clean up.

Strong winds also knocked down power lines, on of which is believed to have sparked a devastating house fire at the end of 7th Street East.

“We can get through this,” homeowner Debbie Sharp said.

“It's kind of numbing, but we're fine, everyone's fine.”

Sharp and her family weren’t home when the fire broke out. They had only lived in the house for about a year, but the historic home has been a part of Sulphur’s history for more than a century.

“It was built 105 years ago,” Sharp explained.

“It has a lot of history to it. It was called Toll Crest.”

Sulphur firefighters worked hard to save a quarter of the house, but the home is being called a total loss, with more than $200,000 worth of damage. Sulphur Fire Chief Danny Cox says the exact cause is still undetermined, but he’s blaming the thunderstorms and high winds.

“A tree out back fell down and that possibly could have started (the fire) inside the structure,” Chief Cox said.

Sharp said regardless, the most important thing is that no one was injured in the house fire. Only material things were lost - items that can be replaced and things that can be rebuilt.

“Your life can change in a heart beat,” Sharp said.

“So you take whatever is given you and be thankful for what you have,” Sharp humbling explained.

Melinda Greenwood, the mother of two just a street over, echoed the same thankfulness.

“There’s damage all the way around Sulphur,” Greenwood said.

“But everyone’s stopped and asked if they can help. This is a small town and that's how it works.”

No word yet on the total amount of damage throughout Sulphur. Both Greenwood and Sharp say they will continue to clean up after the storm.


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