Teacher Still Missing After Helene Floods Pushed Entire Home into North Carolina River

As search efforts continue in the wake of Hurricane Helene, hundreds of people remain missing across the Southeast, including Kim Ashby, a 58-year-old North Carolina woman who disappeared while trying to retrieve precious belongings from her vacation home in Elk Park.

Tragedy Strikes During Rescue Effort

Ashby and her husband, Rod Ashby, were swept away by floodwaters as their home was washed into a nearby river. The couple’s daughter, Jessica Meidinger, shared the heartbreaking details on Wednesday.

Kim and Rod Ashby had driven from their home in Sanford, North Carolina, to the vacation property in Elk Park in an attempt to salvage important family items stored in the garage. The last time Meidinger spoke to her mother and stepfather was Thursday night, before their tragic disappearance the following day. It wasn’t until a neighbor, using a Starlink satellite to communicate, informed the family via Facebook that they learned the couple had been caught in the flood.

Vacation Home Swept Away by Floodwaters

Rod Ashby had designed the vacation home to withstand floodwaters, positioning the garage at ground level and installing doors on either side to allow water to pass through. However, even his meticulous planning could not withstand the force of Hurricane Helene. On Friday morning, Rod heard a loud crack and went outside to investigate. He discovered that a supporting pillar had been knocked out, leaving the house vulnerable.

Before the Ashbys could escape, the house slid into the river, with the couple and their three dogs still inside. Desperate to survive, Kim and Rod climbed onto a mattress and were carried down the river at speeds of 30 to 40 miles per hour. The house eventually struck an embankment and collapsed on top of them, separating the couple and leading to Kim’s disappearance. Rod managed to escape the debris and saw Kim about 10 to 20 feet away. They briefly reunited, clinging to a piece of the house as they floated along. Unfortunately, they were soon thrown into the water again when the debris hit a cluster of trees.

Husband’s Harrowing Escape and Search for Help

Rod Ashby fought to stay afloat, eventually grabbing a tree branch that allowed him to pull himself out of the water. After searching in vain for his wife, he ran approximately 10 miles to a neighbor’s house to seek help. Despite being physically injured, his greatest pain is the mental anguish of having held his wife moments before losing her to the violent waters. Authorities, equipped with search dogs and thermal imaging drones, continue to scour the area for Kim Ashby, but hope is waning. Rod remains with his stepdaughter in Pittsboro, North Carolina, holding onto the hope that Kim will somehow be found alive.

A Community Comes Together

Kim Ashby, a beloved seventh-grade math teacher at SanLee Middle School, is being mourned by her colleagues and students as they await news of her fate. The school community has organized prayer circles, while the town of Elk Park has rallied around the family, offering support during this unimaginable ordeal. Meidinger remains deeply grateful for the outpouring of help and prayers. If her mother is still alive, she hopes Kim can take comfort in knowing her husband is safe and unharmed.