In a heart-wrenching story of loss and devastation, a final photo of North Carolina grandparents waiting to be rescued from the roof of their Asheville home as floodwaters raged around them has emerged. The image encapsulates the overwhelming tragedy left in the wake of Hurricane Helene, a storm that has claimed at least 133 lives across several states, with 40 of those deaths occurring in Buncombe County, North Carolina.
Jessica Drye Turner, who was hundreds of miles away in Texas, pleaded for someone to save her family members. As the storm ravaged Asheville, her parents, along with her 7-year-old nephew Micah and sister Megan, were stranded on the roof of their home. “They were watching 18-wheelers and cars floating by,” Turner wrote in a desperate Facebook post, calling for help.
Tragically, that help did not come in time. The roof they sought shelter on collapsed, and Turner’s parents and young Micah were washed away by the violent floodwaters, ultimately drowning in the torrent. The heartbreaking image posted by Megan, who was also on the roof, shows their mother bundled in blankets as the floodwaters crept dangerously close.
“They’ve called 911 but they aren’t the only ones needing rescue. This is definitely a moment when faith is all you have,” Turner wrote in her plea for help. Her sister Megan was miraculously saved when she became lodged in debris and was rescued an hour later, but the rest of her family did not survive.
Jessica Turner later shared the indescribable sorrow her family is enduring, writing, “I cannot convey in words the sorrow, heartbreak, and devastation my sisters and I are going through nor imagine the pain before us.” She asked for prayers for her sister Megan, who lost her son Micah, and for herself and their other sister, Heather, as they band together to provide comfort in the midst of unimaginable grief.
Megan’s survival was no less miraculous. Jessica revealed that she and Heather ignored warnings that travel was prohibited in Western North Carolina, racing through the night to be with their sister. “If we had listened instead of being willing to do anything to get there, Megan would still be in one of the loneliest situations ever,” she wrote.
On Monday, the family’s sorrow deepened when Micah’s body was found a quarter-mile from where Megan had been rescued. “He was such a perfect little boy. He wanted to be a superhero. And now he is,” Turner wrote in a gut-wrenching update. “If his and my parents’ deaths lead many to Christ, then their deaths were worth it. I will praise the goodness of God when He takes death to lead others into new life.”
Micah’s last words before being swept away were “Jesus! Please help me!” A GoFundMe page has been started to support Megan as she faces the loss of her son.
Hurricane Helene has wreaked havoc across the southeastern United States, leaving a path of destruction in its wake. The storm has been blamed for fatalities in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper described the situation as catastrophic, with entire communities wiped out. “There are a lot of people hurting,” he told MSNBC, adding that search and rescue efforts are ongoing, with hopes that the death toll will not rise further as teams reach remote areas.
Despite the overwhelming grief, Jessica Turner’s words reflect a deep faith, offering a reminder of hope and resilience even in the face of unimaginable tragedy.
