Sulphur Tornado Recovery: City Presses Some Property Owners To Clean Up

People in Sulphur are still cleaning up and trying to rebuild after an E-F 3 tornado tore through the city in April.

Now, some property owners who lost everything feel pressure from the city to get the work done.

The city started inspecting properties last week. Property owners whose properties violate any city codes will receive a letter. The letters order the owners to remove tall grass and debris, demo/remodel houses, and clean up lots. One woman who wanted to remain anonymous said she received the letter on Tuesday.

The letter can be read below:

“I don't think the city is being fair to the residents in this town,” she said.

She’s among more than 30 property owners in Sulphur who have received a letter from the city. She said her home was already in disrepair when the tornado hit. After the storm destroyed it, she paid over $3,000 to remove what was left of her house and can’t do anymore.

“People don't have funds to clean it up,” she said.

She said the 10-day deadline on the letter was especially worrisome.

“We’re not looking to come in there and take over their property, that’s not what this is about,” said Sulphur City Manager Andy Freeman.

Instead, Freeman says the letters are meant to start a conversation about where they are in the cleanup or remodeling process. He says after the storm the city hauled off 125,000 cubic yards of debris, much of that residential. Now the city says owners need to finish the work.

“If they don’t call us and don’t do anything, the city has a legal right to go in there and take care of the property itself and charge it back to the property owner,” Freeman said.

James Edwards didn’t get a letter but says the cleanup process remains daunting.

“We've put a lot of time and money and work in it fixing it back,” Edwards said about his home in Sulphur.

While he’s able to do a lot of the work himself, he says he can see both sides.

“I've got stuff I’d like to see cleaned up, but I also understand that a lot of people are in hard situations,” Edwards said.

Like the woman who did get the letter. When asked if she will clean it up, she says, “We have to, don’t know how, but.”

The city says the cleanup doesn’t have to be completed in 10 days, owners just need to have a plan or the work started. Property owners can contact the city for resources or wait until their hearing.