Oklahoma Parents Among the Chaos In Cairo

Ed Murray, News 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- All the chaos and uncertainty in Egypt has hit here at News9. The parents of News 9's interactive sales manager live and work in Cairo. They moved there a little more than six months ago.

Lacey Sughru said it's been pretty unnerving knowing her father, Jim, and mother, Mary, are so close to all the violence.

"It's been hard. Friday was especially tough until we heard from them Saturday that they were OK and everything was OK. To have no communication with them in this age was absolutely crazy. You couldn't Skype. You couldn't e-mail them. You couldn't call them. It was the first time I really felt out of touch and unable and kind of scared about what was going on," Sughru said.

Sughru said she was able to talk to her father again Monday morning. He said things were a little quieter Monday than over the weekend when a car was burned on their street and gunshots could be heard.

"It's hard to watch things and see things that you recognize. I was over there for Thanksgiving. It's pretty crazy to see, oh my gosh, we were there. To see the museum where we were and the things they are doing to that," Sughru said.

Her father's company does have a plan to evacuate if needed.

"My dad's company has chosen at this point to stay. They're not working but they are still in Cairo and to their knowledge staying put for now," Sughru said.

Sughru said she knows her parents live in a very secure area but there are still those images that make her wonder.

"Having daughters here, I think sometimes he tries to downplay what's actually really going on too, so I fight with that too, seeing what's on the news," Sughru said. "I think it's trying to keep people calm here as well."

Sughru's parents did tell her that the markets are out of bread and other essentials. Her parents said they don't know when the trouble might end for them because Jim's company is a joint venture with the Egyptian government, and there's no clue right now what that government will look like or how it will treat such companies in the days ahead.

Meanwhile, another Oklahoman is among the chaos. A Woodward man is trapped on an offshore oil rig outside of Alexandria.

Dennis Crossland's wife, Heather, said he's not able to make phone calls, and they'll be out of food and fuel by the end of the week.

Heather said the violence in Alexandria is just as bad as it has been in Cairo.