DURANT, Okla. (KXII) – Although the family is currently homeless, they are grateful that everyone made it out alive.

The Watkins family is devastated by what’s left of their home.

The family: Shawn Watkins, Tiffany Watkins and their children: Havoc Watkins, Mystic Watkins, Emmilu Watkins, Eric Hamilton and Adain Smith have a regular routine “just like any family would.” We go to work, get up, have breakfast, have lunch with co-workers, and then come home and have a regular dinner. Weekends consist of working out or sports activities with the kids,” said Tiffany Watkins.

But on Wednesday morning, that routine was disrupted. “My husband had just left for work and I heard a huge explosion,” Watkins said.

The noise did not alarm Tiffany Watkins; was the smell that came shortly after. I thought, “No, something is wrong because I smelled it.” And I think I heard my kitchen alarm faintly go off, but I was still asleep. Then I got up and noticed the smoke and shouted to the boys: ‘No, come on, get the dogs and let’s go.’ “Then there was a flashover and that’s really all I can remember, other than making sure everyone was out and safe,” he said.

“All I really remember is waking up, being yelled at to get out of the house. I didn’t even know what was going on, I was still trying to understand what was going on. I didn’t have any shoes on, so I ran out here,” said Havoc Watkins, Tiffany Watkin’s son.

They ran outside and watched the flames engulf their home.

They bought the house four years ago. “It’s quiet, it’s out in the country but it has access to the city, it’s really close to the city. “That’s one of the reasons we live here and because we feel it’s safer for our children.”

As the family of seven tries to recover from this incident, community members are coming together to help however they can by collecting gift cards, food and drinks. Clothing and hygiene donations Can be dropped off at Overcomer Church in Durant. “This is our home church. One of his visions is ‘I am a light’. And we are a light as a community, so they help us because we are all a light to help each other,” Watkins said.

They are awaiting a visit from the insurance company on Friday to decide whether to rebuild the site of the tragedy.

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