In a heartbreaking ordeal, a family in North Carolina has been reunited with the remains of their daughter, nearly two weeks after she was swept away by floodwaters during Hurricane Helene. This tragedy is just one of many as communities continue to face the aftermath of the storm, which has left lives upended.
Colette and Fadi Zoobi, residents of Huntersville, were devastated to learn that their 28-year-old daughter, Samira Zoobi, had died. Samira had been living in Asheville, a city that experienced significant damage from the storm, which made landfall over 400 miles away in Florida.
On September 27, as the storm lingered, Samira was engulfed by floodwaters from the Swannanoa River. Despite rescue crews' attempts to assist her with ropes, she was unable to reach them. Her boyfriend searched the riverbanks tirelessly, while her parents desperately made calls for information. Four days later, authorities informed them of her death.
“It’s just been devastating,” Colette said, expressing the family’s heartbreak. The challenges did not end there; the family faced a confusing and distressing journey in locating Samira’s body. Initially told that her remains were at a morgue in Asheville, they later learned she had been transferred to a facility in Raleigh. Conflicting information left them frustrated, as the local funeral home struggled to track down her body.
The storm's impact on western North Carolina has been severe, resulting in around 100 fatalities, the highest toll among the states affected by Hurricane Helene. Many lives were lost due to drowning, collapsing structures, landslides, and falling debris.
In her grief, Colette began reaching out to state representatives and the governor's office for assistance, highlighting the lack of coordination in the recovery efforts. “They need to communicate what the process is like when they’re finding people,” she remarked, emphasizing the need for clearer information for families during such crises.
On October 9, police finally contacted Colette to inform her that Samira's body was back in Asheville and would soon be released. The following day, a funeral home team transported her remains home, allowing Colette and Fadi to reunite with their daughter on October 10, two weeks after her tragic loss.
Reflecting on the handling of the situation, Colette expressed her belief that the authorities were overwhelmed by the disaster, which contributed to the lengthy and disorganized recovery process. She remarked, “I think if they had gotten someone to handle those logistics in there right away, maybe it wouldn’t have taken almost two weeks for us to get her back.”
As the recovery continues, Colette stressed that communities in western North Carolina need substantial support. Many areas still lack access to clean water, and the devastation caused by the storm is far from over.
North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper announced that progress has been made in restoring essential services like power and water, but noted that 92 people remain unaccounted for, with nearly 2,000 residents still displaced and in federal shelters.
Kelley Richardson, a spokesperson for the state's Department of Health and Human Services, stated that efforts are ongoing to track and care for the remains of those who died during the storm. Each case has unique circumstances that can affect the timeline for identification and return to families.
Colette expressed hope that no other families would have to endure the same ordeal. “I’m hoping now that, since other agencies have gotten involved, their process is running a little bit smoother,” she said.
In memory of Samira, the family plans to hold a celebration of her life on October 26 in Huntersville. A graphic designer at the Asheville T-Shirt Company, Samira was known for her creativity, and the family intends to share some of her artwork during the service. “I just want to try to make this as positive and uplifting as possible,” Colette concluded, honoring her daughter’s memory amidst the ongoing challenges faced by their community.
No comments:
Post a Comment