A tragic image capturing two devoted grandparents’ frantic attempt to escape rising floodwaters in North Carolina has gone viral on social media. This heartbreaking photo has struck a chord with many as it reflects the real-life consequences of extreme weather events. The family, including Megan Drye, her parents, and her seven-year-old son Micah, were forced to evacuate their Asheville home as floodwaters surged, an experience faced by many across the United States during this time.
Their community is one of many in the Southeast that was ravaged by Hurricane Helene. According to the Daily Mail, Megan, along with her son and elderly parents, sought refuge on their home’s roof as the floodwaters rose. In a desperate plea for help, Megan’s sister, Jessica Drye Turner, shared photos on Facebook of her loved ones huddled on the roof, covered in blankets and wearing everyday clothes, as they watched vehicles and debris float by.
Sadly, the roof they clung to collapsed shortly after the photos were taken. The collapse tragically claimed the lives of little Micah and Megan’s parents, who were in their 70s, as they were swept away by the floodwaters. Megan, however, miraculously survived, though she was left emotionally shattered by the loss.
“I have never felt this kind of loss, devastation, and aching of my spirit. I cry out to my Lord,” Jessica, Micah’s aunt, expressed in her emotional post on Facebook. In a later update, she shared that Megan had been found alive. Heartbreakingly, Micah’s body was recovered half a mile from the scene of the collapse.
In the wake of this unimaginable tragedy, Megan’s other sister, Heather, started a GoFundMe campaign to help the grieving mother. The page’s description reads, “For Megan Drye, our miracle, who has lived a mother’s worst nightmare. She has survived the unimaginable and lost absolutely everything. The support of others will carry her and encourage her to keep taking one breath, one step, and one day at a time.” As of now, the fundraiser has raised over $66,000 for Megan and her family.
The aftermath of Hurricane Helene has been devastating, with over 130 confirmed deaths across several states and countless people left homeless or stranded. According to CBS News, President Biden has confirmed that around 600 individuals are still missing, with communication lines severed in several affected areas. “God willing, they’re alive, but there’s no way to contact them,” Biden told reporters on Monday.
Federal relief efforts are underway, with more than 3,500 federal response troops deployed to the region, according to the White House. The Drye family’s story is just one among many who have faced tremendous loss due to the hurricane’s wrath.
In these challenging times, it’s important to keep those affected by the storms in our thoughts and prayers, and for everyone in vulnerable areas to take all necessary precautions to stay safe.