News 9's David Payne and Jim Gardner return to Sulphur to see recovery from 2024 tornado

In 2024, Oklahoma recorded a historic 152 tornadoes statewide. On April 27, 35 tornadoes touched down across the state.

One of the hardest-hit areas was Sulphur, where several historic brick buildings, some over a century old, were reduced to rubble.

A year later, News 9’s Chief Meteorologist David Payne and Sky News 9 pilot Jim Gardner returned to Sulphur to witness the town's ongoing recovery efforts.

As Payne and Gardner observed, much of the rebuilding effort has been driven by local pride. City Manager Andy Freeman reflected on how many of the town’s business owners are lifelong residents. “I mean, most of these people that have businesses down here, they grew up here,” he said.

Jim Gardner, who spent part of his teenage years in Sulphur, also shared his personal connection to the town’s landmarks. “Well, so who owns the theatre?” he asked. “I’d be going to Chickasaws going, hey, redo this. Bring it back. Bring it back.”

Freeman, too, reflected on the past. “Oh, it’d be nice, I mean. I remember going there when I was a kid watching movies and it was a neat place,” he said.

Despite the damage, Sulphur is focused on preserving its history while rebuilding. To aid in this effort, the Chickasaw Nation has offered grants to businesses that choose to rebuild in downtown Sulphur. Freeman expressed hope for the future, stating, “Now we can build something hopefully back that has the look but with the modern stuff inside.”

Small steps forward are helping revive the area. A boutique, 3rd & Broadway, reopened recently, offering a glimmer of hope for the downtown area. Julie Jack, the owner, explained how they maintained their brand despite the move. “The name of our store was 3rd and Broadway at 3rd and Broadway we had a turquoise door, so we’ve continued our name.” She added, “It’s going to be 3rd and Broadway at 2nd and Muskogee, and we have a turquoise door on our back door.”

While the boutique had to relocate, it was a necessary change after their original building was severely damaged. Jack recalled, “56 pairs of jeans that we dug out and a few pieces of clothing that we donated. All that.”

Despite the destruction, Jack and her business partner, Madeleine Little, were determined to stay in Sulphur. Jack shared, “We wanted to be here for Sulphur. We love it.” Little echoed this sentiment, saying, “Missed our customers. Missed our friends. Yeah. So that’s why we stay.”

Next door, the Sulphur Times-Democrat newspaper, run by Kathy John and her husband since the 1990s, is back in business after making repairs. Kathy reflected on the months of uncertainty following the storm. “We set up on our kitchen table for six months waiting on insurance,” she said. “The inspections, the contractors to finish the work.”

John also mentioned the growing excitement in the town, especially with the upcoming arts festival hosted by the Chickasaw Nation on April 5. The event, which typically draws thousands of visitors, is seen as a major milestone for Sulphur’s recovery. “April 5th at Chickasaw Nation always has an annual arts festival that in the past has brought in usually a minimum of eight to 10,000 people,” she said.

City Manager Andy Freeman shared that many people had assumed Sulphur was gone for good after the tornadoes, but he reassured them that the town was still very much standing. “We’ve had a lot of people go call and say, ‘Oh, we thought the whole town was wiped off the map,’” Freeman said. “We’re still here, come back and see us.”

While Sulphur’s recovery is far from complete, the resilience and determination of its residents are evident. The town is rebuilding, with a spirit of hope and community pride leading the way.

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