As of Tuesday, reports indicate Hurricane Helene is responsible for the deaths of at least 135 people.
While search and rescue teams continue to look for the estimated 600 people who remain unaccounted for, we’re beginning to hear the harrowing stories of survival and the devastating stories of loss.
Jessica Drye Turner, who lives in Texas, shared her family’s heartbreaking story on Facebook.Turner initially asked friends and family for prayers for her sister, nephew, and parents who were stuck on the roof of their house in Asheville, North Carolina. She detailed how her family sat trapped with only the clothes on their backs and one working phone, while they waited to be rescued.
In a tragic update, which she later explained she received through a third party, Turner shared her parents and nephew drowned and though her sister, Megan, ended up wedged between “something,” she was later rescued.
After the initial shock wore off, Turner shared another update on Facebook, this time with more details.“I need to clarify some details about what occurred,” she wrote. “My updates transpired after I was told information. All details I received were from 3rd parties until I heard directly from my sister. What actually transpired is worse but I feel I need to let all of you know.”
Although Turner first said the roof her family was sitting on collapsed, that was not the case. The house did, dropping her sister, seven-year-old nephew and parents who were in their 70s into the floodwaters.
“Mama was clinging onto micah and daddy was struggling to hold onto Megan. He kept panicking and pushing her under.”
Megan tried to hold onto a tree and her father, but the current was too strong and swept Michael Drye away. Moments later Megan watched her mother Nora float by.
Jessica wrote that it was in that moment her sister believes their mother “gave up” because she lost Micah to the current.
“The look on my mother’s face was absolute horror and defeat.”
Megan looked up just in time to see the floodwaters sweep her son away.
“He was so scared. And she heard him yell, ‘Jesus!!!!! Please help me!!!’ And we believe that’s when he was taken.”
After watching her family get swept away, Megan let go of the tree she was holding on to. The current quickly took her and pushed her between two trailers where she stayed for three hours before rescuers found her.
Micah’s body was located “1/4 of a mile past where they found Megan.”
My thoughts and prayers go out to all of those affected by Hurricane Helene. The damage this storm has caused should be a wake up call to us all. Storms are only going to get worse if we don’t do our best to reverse climate change.