A North Carolina family's journey from war-torn Ukraine to the United States was tragically interrupted.
They were killed not by the familiar threats of artillery or rocket barrage, but by more insidious forces of nature.
The once calm South Toe River was turned into a torrent by Hurricane Helen's relentless rains.
Ricky Wiebe's family home was swept away by the storm, leaving four of his loved ones, including a 13-year-old boy, missing and presumed dead.
A journey to newfound hope
Helen devastated the peaceful countryside of western North Carolina on September 27th.
The small, close-knit community of Burnsville, located near Asheville, bore the brunt of the storm's fury.
It was the same southeastern communities that embraced Weave. In the same place they envisioned building a new life, they found new hope.
According to the families, authorities found the bodies of two of the missing family members, who were found hugging each other.
Wiebe, who spoke to Fox Weather from Los Angeles on behalf of the family, said they were found more than 15 miles from where their home once was.
“They had to risk their lives to reach them. They did it for free out of the kindness of their hearts,” he added.
“Unfortunately, it seems like the search and rescue operation is coming to an end because it's been a long time. It's been going on for three weeks now.”
Wiebe's brother's sister-in-law fled Ukraine from the devastated Kherson region in April 2022 with her husband, teenage son and mother.
The town was considered a dangerous place as it was the first city occupied by Russian troops.
They were constantly at risk of capture as they embarked on the dangerous journey through Russia, Wiebe said.
They eventually crossed into Latvia, Lithuania, and then on to Poland.
A few months later, in June 2022, the family finally arrived in Miami, with other families joining them the following month.
Their extended family met them at the airport and drove them to Burnsville, where they experienced a heartfelt reunion.
“They were so happy when they got here,” Wiebe said.
“They finally succeeded.”
Immediately after arriving, the family received work permits and began work in home construction and cleaning services.
A year later, they secured a mobile home to rent near their family.
“They escaped a terrible situation and lived in joy, peace and happiness for about two years,” Wiebe said.
Then the river carried them away.
'Monster' river haunts family
The Wiebs had expected only about 12 inches of rain, but that quickly increased to at least 30 inches.
Wiebe said her brother was at home and found himself knee-deep in water.
As families fled their homes and scrambled up hills to reach higher ground to survive, water levels rose at an alarming pace.
Battling hurricane-force rain and wind, they were forced to leave everything behind, some without even shoes.
“This was not a flood. Flood is a good word,” he added.
“This was a raging river monster that got out of control and rose up to 100 feet in the air, devouring trailers, garbage trucks, and homes, reducing them to nothing but scrap metal.”
The river that now destroyed their family was once a source of tranquility and joy.
Wiebe and his brother grew up on the river, and their childhoods were filled with the joy of fishing, tubing, and navigating whitewater.
Their home was right next to a river, and it was a beautiful place where the soothing sound of running water could be heard as a lullaby.
“But unfortunately, now the river has completely destroyed the landscape and it's not what it used to be,” Wiebe said.
“My brother is very afraid of rivers because of what they have done and the power they have now.”
For now, Wiebe said the family's ultimate goal is to rebuild.
“There's a lot more wealth at the top and it's never going to be watered down,” Wiebe said.
“But of course we need to make peace with the river.”
Wiebe's family's tragedy is just one of many in areas devastated by floods.
As North Carolina communities come together to support the dozens of others who also lost their lives and those who are still missing. Wiebe has set up a GoFundMe to help the family meet their immediate and long-term needs. They are on a difficult road to recovery from a devastating loss.
“This is their home and their community. They can't just leave,” Wiebe said.
“Please help them continue their work and prevent this terrible tragedy from getting worse.”
