Three siblings in North Carolina managed to endure the devastating flooding caused by Hurricane Helene while perched on their kitchen counter.
A group of triplets recount their harrowing experience during the flooding caused by Hurricane Helene in Fairview, N.C., where they found refuge on their kitchen counter, praying as the waters surged around them.
During a conversation with WTVD, siblings Henri and Ian shared their experience of being at home with their sister Zoe and their cat Pumpkin while Helene wreaked havoc across western North Carolina after hitting Florida on September 26 and moving north.
As the floodwaters engulfed their property and surged into their home at an alarming rate, Ian recounted, “best bet was to stay inside and that’s when we climbed up on the kitchen counters.”
“As the water kept on rising, it started shooting through the door, the water pressure busted the door open and a whole bunch of wood started to come into the house,” he said.
“We just sat on the counter and the only thing we could do was pray,” he added. “About 30 minutes later the water started receding.”
Zoe’s voice is filled with distress in the videos shared with WTVD, as the water encroaches upon their property.
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The sight of her car being swept away was alarming, as debris from a nearby lumber yard collided with their home.
When it became safe to venture outdoors, the siblings noted the extent of the destruction around them.
Henri’s truck and Ian’s car, along with cherished family antiques, were swept away by the storm.
Among the limited items that endured were photographs of their brother Jason, who passed away in childhood, along with a handful of small toy trucks that Jason used to play with. Ian referred to these as “the most important thing to my dad at the moment, and this is all we could save.”
“This is the worst thing that has ever happened by far, but the Lord has continued to just bless us by far,” he said.
The siblings expressed relief that their father, who resides with them at the Fairview house, was not present during Helene’s impact, given his health issues.
“He had knee surgery, he could barely walk and then he was diagnosed with cancer,” Ian explained.
“I do believe if he wasn’t diagnosed with cancer, he would have been here, and I don’t think he would have made it out,” Ian said. “When we escaped, the mud was to our knees and the water would have swept him away.”
Officials and news sources report that over 220 individuals have lost their lives due to Helene, with approximately half of the casualties occurring in North Carolina.