A North Carolina couple says they were swept away from their home during Hurricane Helene

YANCEY COUNTY, NC – As residents continue the difficult process of trying to get their lives back on track after Hurricane Helene, a couple from the hard-hit West North Carolina shares their survival story.

Howard and Lisa Ray were living in a house near the Cane River, north of Asheville, when the storm system began dumping heavy rainfall in late September.

“It was probably 8:30 that morning when we looked outside, and the water was maybe three feet away. And then, after 15 minutes, we looked out again and our porch was gone,” Lisa told FOX Weather.

A few minutes later, Lisa said the kitchen began to fill with water, and a couch was one of the last pieces of furniture visible above the waterline.

After calling for help over a radio communications system, Lisa said their caravan broke into pieces, allowing the couple to float away as they clung to the sofa.

“We floated about a quarter mile, and he told me to jump. And I jumped and put my arm around the barbed wire fence,” Lisa said.

Helene caused at least $53 billion in damage in North Carolina, governor says

Howard said help eventually arrived several hours later, but it would be days before he and his wife returned to their property to inspect the damage and search for their missing dog.

“Two days later she came back to where we had broken into the garage to get to our jeep. And there she was. I never saw her smile until then,” Lisa said.

Ray’s home, like many homes in rural Pensacola, North Carolina, was completely destroyed when several feet of water flowed into rivers and tributaries.

The couple is temporarily staying in an Airbnb hosted by their pastor until they decide what to do next.

According to data from the Federal Emergency Management AgencyNearly every property affected by flooding in North Carolina does not have an active flood insurance policy, which will make the recovery process even more extensive.

“Wherever God leads us, that’s where we’re going,” Lisa told FOX Weather.

Helene’s death toll passes 100 in North Carolina

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services reported that more than 100 people have died in connection with the storm, with the majority of victims coming from Asheville and Buncombe County.

The The state’s governor estimated total damage at about $53 billionmaking Helene the costliest natural disaster in North Carolina history.

“This storm left a trail of destruction across our beautiful mountains that we won’t soon forget, but I know the people of Western North Carolina are determined to rebuild better than ever. These initial funds are a good start, but the staggering amount of damage shows that we are at the forefront of these recovery efforts,” Governor Roy Cooper said in a statement during the storm’s aftermath.

Original article source: A North Carolina couple says they were swept away from their home during Hurricane Helene