One family navigating unbearable loss because of Hurricane Helene is also glorifying God in the midst of their sorrow. North Carolina resident Megan Drye lost her 7-year-old son, Micah, and her parents, Michael and Nora, to the flood waters that devastated Asheville and other North Carolina communities.
All four family members had taken refuge on the roof of their house before the flood caused the house to collapse. Drye said her son called on Jesus in his final moments and that, later, she heard God’s voice guiding her to safety.
“I’m so proud of my son because in his last moments, he wasn’t screaming for me. He was screaming, ‘Jesus, Jesus save me. Jesus I hear you. Jesus, I’m calling upon you,” Drye told the anchors on FOX Weather four days after the tragedy occurred. Drye’s sister, Heather Kephart, joined her for the interview.
Micah’s “goal in life” was to be a superhero—he had wanted to be Deadpool for Halloween. “Instead, he’s my hero because he reached for something past flesh…past anything that even grown adults I think would reach for,” said Drye, who was wearing one of her son’s shirts. “My son called out to the one God Almighty, and I think at that moment he was rescued. He became my hero.”
Asheville Flooding Sweeps Away Family Taking Refuge on Roof
Hurricane Helene made landfall in the Florida gulf as a Category 4 hurricane on the evening of Thursday, Sept. 26, wreaking havoc across the Southeast, particularly in Florida, South Carolina, Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. Helene surprised and devastated inland communities unused to dealing with hurricanes.
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In a statement to ChurchLeaders, Drye’s sister, Jessica Drye Turner, said of her parents and nephew, “We just keep thanking God that their deaths are bringing so many to Christ. It’s all worth it if even one is brought to Christ. We know they do not remember their fear, suffering and tears. Prayers have certainly sustained us. “
As the catastrophe unfolded, Turner posted a series of updates on her Facebook page, describing what had happened to the family. Michael and Nora Drye, who were in their 70s, Megan Drye, and Megan’s son, Micah, had taken refuge on the roof of their house in Asheville with only “the clothes on their back and one working phone.”
“They are watching 18 wheelers and cars floating by. In addition, part of the house they’re sitting on is in front of them,” said Turner. “They’ve called 911 but they aren’t the only ones needing rescue. This is definitely a moment when faith is all you have.”
Turner’s post includes two photos showing what the flood waters looked like from the roof of the house. Drye told FOX Weather the roof was “their only hope” because “everything else was covered in water.” When she took the photos, she thought the four of them were safe. They still had cell phone service at that point. “I thought we were ok still…until the house broke apart and until everything started to collapse,” she said.
