North Carolina Mother, Fiancé, and Her Two Young Sons Die While Fleeing Hurricane

The lives of four beloved family members were tragically cut short when Hurricane Helene hit as they tried to escape the storm on Friday, September 27, 2024.

Alison Wisely, her two young sons, Felix and Lucas, and her fiancé, Knox Petrucci, who were from Green Mountain, North Carolina, were attempting to evacuate when their car began to float in rising floodwaters.

Forced to abandon their car as the flooding worsened, the family attempted to make their way back to the house. However, a massive wave swept them into the nearby Toe River.

A man, who witnessed the event firsthand, had attempted to warn them against approaching the water and later tried to assist in their escape, but his efforts were unsuccessful.

He later confirmed their identities after being shown photos of the family. Emergency responders eventually located the family’s car a significant distance from the road, near the river’s edge. Their home was searched, and though it was empty, a lone dog was found inside.

Alison’s body was recovered on October 4, 2024, in Tennessee while Felix and Lucas’s bodies were found on the following day. On October 7, 2024, after several agencies worked tirelessly to bring Knox home so he could rest with his family, his body was also recovered.

As per her family, Alison, known for her wisdom and deep love for her children, was a nurturing mother who inspired Felix and Lucas to embrace their imaginations and creativity. As Sanctuary Operations Manager at Carolina Memorial Sanctuary, she guided others through their grief with compassion and grace.

Knox, a beekeeper and manager at Honey and the Hive in Weaverville, was also a gifted musician and artist. Known for his advocacy for the Earth and bees, he lived with authenticity, supporting his friends and loved ones with boundless love.

Nine-year-old Felix was a curious and precocious boy. He loved learning about the world, especially the magical and mysterious, including earth creatures others do not believe in. He was also fascinated by tornadoes and hurricanes. He and his mother even produced a podcast about folklore and the supernatural, called Beyond Legend.

Felix’s brother, Lucas, 7, was a sweet and imaginative child. He brightened the lives of everyone around him with his humor and warmth, often donning superhero costumes and sparkling accessories. He adored cows of every kind and gave the best cuddles.

The family, who lived near the river in the North Carolina mountains, created a life full of love, music, creativity, and nature. They were planning to celebrate Alison and Knox’s wedding on November 9 but are now being mourned by devastated family and friends.

A GoFundMe campaign has been set up to support memorial services and grieving family members. While the Carolina Memorial Sanctuary has graciously covered funeral costs, any additional funds will be used to honor the lives of Alison, Knox, Felix, and Lucas and support those impacted by the storm.

The heartbreak felt by their loved ones is unimaginable, and the family has thanked everyone for their love, support, and continued prayers during this painful time. They have also paid tribute to Alison, Knox, Felix, and Lucas.

In an emotional post, where she announced the news, Knox’s sister, Briana, reflected on the love and memories they shared. She paid tribute to Alison as the wisest and most loving partner to Knox, someone who quickly felt like family.

“She instantly felt like a sister and I will always cherish the talks we had about the afterlife and the meaning of life over coffee when we spent time together in Lake Winnipesaukee,” penned Briana.

Knox’s sister spoke fondly of Felix and Lucas, calling them the, “brightest, magical, funniest little souls you could ever imagine.” She expressed the sorrow of not being able to fully embrace her role as their aunt.

Briana also honored her brother’s legacy, promising to carry forward the values he held dear. “Knox, I love you so much. You taught me how to love fiercely, and wholly and I don’t know how I am going to do life without you,” she added.

She celebrated Knox’s fierce love, his advocacy for the environment and bees, and his unwavering commitment to his friends and family. The pain of his absence is indescribable, but she vowed to continue embodying the qualities he lived by, including his forgiving and genuine spirit.

Briana extended her thoughts to the father of Alison’s children, Lance Wisely, and his partner, Sarah, as well as her parents, Kathy and Bruce, and brother, Hayden. She asked for prayers and support for them as they grieve this tremendous loss.

In her message, she expressed immense gratitude to the volunteers, emergency workers, and community members who have come together during this difficult time. She asked for privacy and time for the family to grieve as they navigate through the pain of their loss.

Lance also wrote a touching message, expressing the immense love and pride he felt for his sons. He shared, “The boys were loved fiercely and generously by all of their grown ups, and by you, even many of you who never met them have watched them grow up and shared in our joys as a family.”

The dad also described his sons as adventurous, artistic, and full of joy and snuggles. “It has been my great honor and pleasure, and exhausting privilege, to be their father for their time in this world with us,” he wrote.

Lance spoke highly of Knox, who embraced Felix and Lucas as his own, always showing them love and care. He also paid tribute to Alison, calling her brilliant, charming, and a devoted mother. Their cooperative co-parenting relationship was one that Lance deeply valued, as they shared the joys of raising their children.

Lance acknowledged the deep sense of loss that has touched so many. The family’s passing has left a void, and the outpouring of love and support serves as a testament to the impact they had on those around them.

Another family, the Taylors, had a typical good night turn tragic for them when Hurricane Helene hit their home. As we previously reported, a brother and his sister were among more than two dozen Georgians who lost their lives in the devastating storm. This tragic event has left a profound impact on the community, as families grapple with the heartbreaking loss of loved ones.

The Taylors’ night on September 26, 2024, began peacefully as much as the family was aware that Hurricane Helene was approaching eastern Middle Georgia. Still, they were uncertain about where it would hit and the extent of its impact far inland.

Therefore, they were enjoying quality time as the children relaxed with their parents. Crystal Taylor, 34, curled up on the living room couch with her oldest child, 11-year-old Cassidy, as they drifted off to sleep.

The two had been watching “Beat Bobby Flay,” a cooking show, while Crystal kept an eye on the weather updates on her phone. Meanwhile, her husband, Herbert Taylor, 39, was asleep in their bedroom with their two other kids, Harmony, 7, and Derrick, 4.

As midnight passed, the ferocious storm swept through the countryside, moving from Valdosta toward Augusta and crossing the area’s rivers, the Ocmulgee and Oconee.

Ultimately, the city of Sandersville, with a population of about 5,500 and located at the center of a triangle formed by Macon, Statesboro, and Augusta, found itself directly in the storm’s path.

At around 4:00 a.m., Crystal’s mother called to check in, asking if their trees were still standing. Crystal assured her that they were, although the wind had intensified significantly. In the backyard loomed a massive oak, its trunk as wide as a tractor tire.

The tree’s expansive canopy provided shade to the entire backyard and much of the house on sunny days, and it remained upright. But as the winds began to strengthen, Herbert, a heavy equipment operator, went to peek outside and saw the cover of his truck lift into the air.

He turned to head down the hallway toward his bedroom, where his two youngest children were sleeping. Before he could reach them, the house suddenly exploded.

The enormous oak tree fell onto the bed where Derrick and Harmony were sleeping. Herbert cried out, “My babies,” as the impact ignited an electrical fire. Meanwhile, Crystal and Cassidy dashed to a neighbor’s house for safety.

Cassidy was tearful but maintained her composure as she called 911. Giving their home’s address, she said, “A tree fell on top of our house. My 4-year-old brother and my 7-year-old sister are in it. The house is on fire.”

The storm continued to howl as rescuers arrived at the Taylor residence on South Hospital Road. They managed to extinguish the flames, but the massive oak tree obstructed access to Derrick and Harmony, leaving them trapped.

Crystal sobbed, “I can’t get to my babies.” Fearful that calling their names might provoke them to cry out while she was helpless to save them, she struggled to stay calm. Hours dragged on, and it took more than five hours for the crew to saw through the tree and reach the children.

As time passed with no sign of her kids, Crystal, a pre-K teacher at Ridge Road Primary, reassured herself, “My babies are going to come out. They’ll be alright.”

She pictured Derrick asking for his favorite snack, cookies, and graham crackers, while Harmony would come looking for the special boiled white potatoes her cherished “papa,” made for her.

Sadly, this future was cut short. The Taylors believe Derrick and Harmony passed away instantly. Now, the family is grieving their loss and appreciates the public’s prayers and support.

Herbert wrote on Facebook on September 28, 2024, “I wanna thank everybody for the calls txt and all the luv and prayers we been getting it really means a lot to us at this difficult time much luv to yall [sic].”

On September 30, 2024, Crystal also spoke out, “Hello everyone, I wanted to reach out to everyone and say that nothing has went [sic] unnoticed and me and my family appreciate all the love that has been shown to us during this time.”

The Taylors have also been receiving financial support from well-wishers via Herbert’s cash app $Rick4715. A GoFundMe page organized by Brittany Price and Jenna Barefield on behalf of the family is also running. It has raised over $80,000 of its $100,000 goal at the time of writing.

The page reads, “Please consider giving to help the family during this incredible loss with funeral expenses as well as finding new housing and everyday expenses. They also have their oldest daughter to care for.”

With more than 1000 donations received, the Taylors are deeply thankful for the outpouring of financial support, prayers, and kind gestures from their community.