An apartment fire can take a home in minutes. Recovery takes much longer.
Sabrina Smith joins Jed Chappell to talk about losing her home, business equipment, and irreplaceable family memories in a devastating apartment fire. With her daughters depending on her, Sabrina moved into crisis mode before she had time to process what had happened.
She shares the practical and psychological realities that can follow a disaster, including the gap between immediate emergency assistance and the long work of rebuilding a stable life. That experience became part of the vision for 1155, an effort Sabrina is developing to provide temporary housing and basic necessities for people displaced by fire.
The conversation also moves through Sabrina's Georgia upbringing, her creative work with Crystal Pink Events, the relationship between style and dignity, her connection to Oklahoma, and the hope she found in the middle of loss.
Content note: This episode includes non-graphic discussion of an apartment fire, displacement, loss, and the emotional aftermath of disaster.
WHAT YOU'LL HEAR
- The night the apartment fire changed Sabrina's family life
- Why parents may enter crisis mode before they can grieve
- What temporary shelters and short-term assistance can miss
- The need for stability, privacy, and practical support after a disaster
- Sabrina's vision for 1155
- The grief of losing photographs and family history
- How interior design led Sabrina into event planning
- The story and creative philosophy behind Crystal Pink Events
- Why Sabrina is drawn to Oklahoma City
- How family, faith, and purpose helped restore hope
CHAPTERS
00:00 Opening
00:23 Meet Sabrina Smith
01:42 Growing up in Georgia
03:55 Family, sports, and early influences
05:40 The fire that changed everything
07:57 Crisis mode and starting over
11:34 Serving other families while displaced
12:11 Building the vision for 1155
15:02 What emergency response can miss
15:48 The psychological side of recovery
18:40 The memories that cannot be replaced
21:57 Crystal Pink Events and Sabrina's creative work
25:45 Style, confidence, and dignity
27:10 Why Sabrina loves Oklahoma
29:20 A new chapter in Oklahoma City
30:26 Supporting others after tragedy
31:58 Finding hope after loss
33:42 Closing thoughts
ABOUT SABRINA
Sabrina Smith is an event planner and designer with a background in interior design. She is the creative force behind Crystal Pink Events and is developing 1155, a vision for temporary housing and practical support for people displaced by fire.
CONNECT WITH SABRINA
Crystal Pink Events: https://crystalpinkevents.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Crystalpevents/
Email: sabrina@crystalpinkevents.com
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VOICES of OKC is a student-produced podcast from City Center highlighting the leaders, stories, and ideas shaping Oklahoma City.
City Center serves youth and families across Oklahoma City through practical support, mentorship, and relationships rooted in dignity. Through VOICES of OKC, students help tell the stories of the people shaping our city while building skills, confidence, and a deeper connection to their community.
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