Tragedy Strikes as Western NC Family Perishes in Floods During Tropical Storm Helene

A devastating incident in western North Carolina has resulted in the loss of four lives, as Tropical Storm Helene caused catastrophic flooding in the region. Alison Wisley, along with her fiancé Knox Petrucci and her two children, Felix, 9, and Lucas, 7, tragically perished while attempting to evacuate their home in Green Mountain. The incident occurred as they were trying to escape rising floodwaters brought by the storm.

Witnesses reported that the family embarked on their evacuation journey around noon on Friday, as Tropical Storm Helene intensified. While driving through floodwaters in their vehicle, the car began to float. Upon exiting the car in an effort to return home, they were swept away into the nearby Toe River, ultimately leading to their untimely deaths. Their bodies were later recovered from the river.

The disaster struck amid assurances from the family that they had made preparations for the storm’s impact, expecting only minor flooding. They had secured sandbags and pallets, trusting that their location in the mountains would prevent severe damage. However, the Toe River dramatically rose by 22 feet, inundating their single-story home almost to the ceiling.

Briana Petrucci Yarbrough, Knox Petrucci’s sister, shared insights into the family’s life, highlighting their deep connection with the local community and their commitment to sustainability. Knox was remembered as a beekeeper, musician, and community educator who was passionate about the environment and engaged with the arts and LGBTQ+ communities. “Knox had described to me with gratitude the neighborliness of the people of Burnsville and Green Mountain,” she stated.

Yarbrough also reflected on Alison Wisley’s role as a loving mother who nurtured her children’s creativity and imagination. The boys, known for their artistic interests and love of adventure, were actively involved in projects like “Beyond Legends,” a podcast centered around folklore and cryptids.

Lance Wisley, the father of Felix and Lucas, expressed appreciation for the outpouring of love and support from the community. He stated, “I would like to express my gratitude to the people who loved and cared for my children, their mother Aly (Alison), and Knox, who the children were excited to call their step-dad.”

Amid the heart-wrenching loss, there were some glimpses of hope. Several of the family’s pets miraculously survived the flooding. Their cattle dog, Reishi, was found floating on a mattress and is now in the care of a neighbor. The family cat, Mowgli, was located and will be adopted by a family friend. The boys’ lizard, Sheila, survived in its tank, and efforts to find their missing hound, Moonpie, continue.

Generous community support has emerged, with a local cemetery offering to cover burial costs and a fund established to aid grieving family members and others affected by the storm. The family plans to donate any additional funds to local relief initiatives supporting those impacted by this climate disaster.