In Avery County, North Carolina, Jamie Guinn is mourning the tragic loss of his wife, Melissa, who died during a devastating mudslide caused by Hurricane Helene.
The disaster struck their home on September 27, severely injuring Guinn and claiming Melissa’s life. Guinn, his wife, and their eight-year-old son were sheltering inside when two mudslides hit, knocking their house off a cliff into a nearby river.
“Within an hour, my entire life changed for the rest of my life, definitely love who you got because you really don’t know when they’re gone,” Guinn said.
Guinn, who suffered a fractured back, managed to free himself and his son, but Melissa’s screams from the original site of their home soon fell silent.
Guinn believes she was swept into the river before he could reach her.
“When I got right behind my little boy, I started screaming for my wife because I couldn’t hear her anymore,” he continued. “Then, he turned and looked at me and said ‘Daddy, I think Mommy’s gone.'”
Hurricane Helene has claimed over 230 lives, with many still missing as recovery efforts are hindered by ongoing complications.
The storm is the deadliest to hit the U.S. mainland since Hurricane Katrina in 2005, which caused far more devastation with an estimated 1,400 deaths.
The number of those unaccounted for has dropped as communication improves and rescue operations progress.
