By Bernie Woodall
SWANNANOA, North Carolina (Reuters) – Earlier than the Dixon household realized the hazard, the creek behind their North Carolina house had turn out to be a raging torrent. Earlier than they might escape, Jessica Dixon mentioned, her father was swept away to his loss of life.
The Dixon household is amongst 1000’s round Asheville who had been caught unexpectedly and touched by tragedy when Hurricane Helene swept tons of of miles inland after making landfall on Florida’s Panhandle. The storm introduced what climate consultants say was once-in-a-generation rainfall to the picturesque mountain area, destroying roads and bridges, slicing off water and energy, and leaving dozens lifeless.
Jessica, 40, recounted her household’s tragedy from the driveway of a pal in Asheville, close to her hometown of Swannanoa in an space that after appeared removed from the intense climate that has struck different elements of the U.S. lately.
She mentioned because the water flooded their home and rose to chest stage final week, her father, George, instructed the household that that they had no choice however to flee. Not one of the 5 – George, his spouse, Jill, Jessica, or her two teenaged sons, Parker and wheel-chair-bound Kaden – made it to the automobile.
“Dad went to the back to grab my mom’s purse where the keys were attached,” Jessica said. “Then, all I could hear was Parker saying, ‘Grandpa’s gone. Grandpa’s gone.’ And he was washed away.”
Jessica thinks her father, who she mentioned was round 70 years outdated and on the point of have fun his fiftieth wedding ceremony anniversary subsequent week, was pulled by the flood waters via massive home windows in a bed room together with the furnishings and all the things else.
“It all went, Woosh!” she said.
The rest of the family then retreated to another bedroom farther from the overflowing Bee Tree Creek on the other side of the house. Jessica said the water was nearly to her chin.
She said that she and the other family members spent six or seven hours clinging to a large leather guitar case and a dresser to keep afloat in the creek water, which had turned fetid when a septic tank flooded.
“That guitar case saved our lives,” she mentioned.
When the water step by step receded, the household was capable of climb out home windows of the entrance of the home. The entrance door was blocked by a fridge, Jessica mentioned.
As they walked down the almost washed-out street, firefighters picked them up and introduced them to the Swannanoa Fireplace Rescue substation. Her mom, who Jessica mentioned has arthritis, stayed behind with neighbors who lived at the next elevation, away from the creek.
Jessica finally discovered her father’s physique a brief means downstream from their home. The physique was hung up in particles and fallen bushes.
Legislation enforcement officers mentioned the physique of a person who seemed to be about 70 was retrieved on Sunday night time from the creek close to the Dixon household’s home. They might not affirm that it was the physique of George Dixon.
