A family of four died while trying to leave their home during Storm Helene, which was a terrible tragedy for the town of Green Mountain in western North Carolina.
The accident killed Alison Wisely, her fiancé Knox Petrucci, and her two kids, Felix (9) and Lucas (7). Family said that the four tried to leave their house in their car, but the floods carried them into the Toe River.
This terrible event shows how quickly and unexpectedly Storm Helene could change. It hit the mountains in North Carolina with unimaginable force.
Family friends said that Alison and Knox were ready for some flooding but didn’t think the storm would be as bad as it was. The 22-foot rise in the Toe River caught them off guard and flooded their one-story house.
The bodies of the victims have been found, and the community is sad about the death of a loved family.
Knox was deeply rooted in the Appalachian community. He kept bees and wanted to become a blacksmith. According to his sister Briana Petrucci Yarbrough, he was a kind person who brought people together.
Alison was a loving mother who encouraged her kids’ creativity and imagination. Felix and Lucas were lively boys who liked science, art, and exciting things to do.
Pets that were still alive, like Reishi the cow dog and Mowgli the cat, have been found and are being taken care of. A GoFundMe page has been set up to help friends and family who are mourning.
Alison worked at the Carolina Memorial Sanctuary, which has kindly offered to pay for her burial and service. The overflow of love and support from the community has helped the grieving family.
The memory of this loving family will live on as the community works to heal and rebuild. They are a testament to the power of love and connection.
As Knox’s sister put it, “Knox was always looking for meaningful connections with other people.” People who knew him, Alison, and their children will always be inspired and lifted up by their stories.
