Sharana Jordan, who had held out hope that her elderly parents would be evacuated to safety amid flash flooding in western North Carolina, said Wednesday that authorities believe their bodies have been found.
Sharana's story spread across the country as she searched in vain for her parents, who lived in the Avery Wood Mobile Home Park in Swannanoa, North Carolina, a town in the Appalachian Valley. She hoped that by some miracle her parents, who could not swim, would be safely evacuated.
She posted on Facebook on October 5th:
My father turns 70 today. I'm sure I'm getting on his nerves by calling him “old man.” But instead we are looking for him. I need a little mental break tonight. We have been doing this every day and night since Saturday, September 28th, from sunset until 2am. We will resume replying to messages and comments starting tomorrow. Good night FB fam.
Breitbart News visited her parents' destroyed home on Saturday, October 12, as volunteers tried to help salvage what they could from the house.
They found a photo of Sharana smiling with her father when she was just a few years old. They found plaques honoring her father as Employee of the Month at two separate workplaces: Walmart and Cracker Barrel. They found a diploma in which her mother entered Cecil's business college. Pottery was also found in an antiques cabinet.
Christina Wong/Breitbart News
That Saturday, it had already been two weeks since Hurricane Helen hit Swannanoa on September 27th, and Sharana had hoped that they would be rescued and taken to a hospital or shelter, but she had not heard back. I couldn't get it.
The pair were last seen alive in a video posted to TikTok by a neighbor, which showed the 69-year-old father on the porch of his home, which was already submerged in waist-deep water. The figure was shown. Authorities found plastic bags containing their photo IDs and other belongings, suggesting they may have tried to evacuate.
Breitbart News flew a commercial helicopter Tuesday over Swannanoa and nearby towns, which were hardest hit by Hurricane Helen. Most mobile home parks had been completely washed away and there was no evidence that they ever existed.
Sharana's parents had secured their home to its foundation, but another mobile home that had been washed away by the storm crashed into their home.
Christina Wong/Breitbart News
Jordan posted on Facebook on Wednesday:
Authorities believe they have found the bodies of my parents, Nora Ramser and Robert Ramser. Yesterday and today I provided DNA samples to the county and the Chief Medical Examiner's office to have them compared to confirm that they are my parents. The ME I interviewed clarified: “I can't say anything on the record, but I have no reason to think they are not my parents.” DNA results will take a week to a week and a half to provide a final answer.
She posted about her last memories with her mother, who had just repaired their relationship:
It's no secret to anyone who knows me that I had a strained relationship with my parents. However, my mother and I have repaired our relationship over the past few years and slowly become closer. When I was sick, dying and fighting for disability, she supported me and my children financially in any way she could.
We finally convinced her to come visit us…the weekend before the floods. She came and stayed all weekend and had the best time. We relaxed, ate good food, caught up with each other, played with Ed and the kids, and just had a great time together. That weekend, I talked to her more than I had ever talked to her in my entire life. Next we were talking about Thanksgiving and Christmas plans. There was something I wanted to do.
When she came, she brought all her Christmas and birthday presents for winter 2024 (September). I thought it was ridiculous and asked her why she was doing that, and she just quietly said, “You know what? “I don't know, I just thought I should…”
It's like she knew
I thought we would have more time…The women in our family live very long lives. My mother's oldest sister is 80 years old and still active. My grandmother passed away at the age of 96. My great-grandmother passed away at the age of 102. So, to be honest, I thought I would be able to spend another 20 years with my parents. Authorities believe they have found the bodies of a North Carolina woman's parents who were swept away by Hurricane Helen, but that wasn't actually the case. . I've spent years and there's nothing anyone can do about it. My oldest aunt was very close to my mother, so she talked me into coming back with her while we waited for water to return to the area…that little thing gave me solace. He gave it to me.
Life is very fragile and can disappear in an instant. I think you're still in shock. We just saw them 5 days before the flood.
Thank you to the Swannanoa community, multiple volunteers and volunteer groups, friends and family, 828 SAR (Ashley Ketron and company), Fire and Rescue personnel, the North Carolina State Coroner's Office, and the strangers on Swannanoa Facebook who were willing to help. I will. , the Buncombe County Sheriff, my parents' neighbors who were willing to share their stories, and anyone else I've forgotten. The massive response of people helping us and praying for us has been amazing and brings tears to my eyes every time I think about it.
And finally, thank you for all your stories. I received dozens of sweet stories, conversations, and memories from colleagues, family, friends, and community members who knew my parents well. They lived in Buncombe County for 70 years…and that’s because everyone knew them and had great things to say about them.
Hug your mom and dad. If possible, resolve the issue with them. Even a perfectly healthy person can lose it in an instant. Don't miss the time I missed.
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