The triplets, trapped indoors when Hurricane Helene hit, sat on the counters and prayed, hoping the water would eventually recede.
Western North Carolina triplets Henri, Ian, and Zoe Marlowe recounted how they survived floodwaters that overwhelmed their home. The trio were unable to escape due to the strength of the rushing water and had to think fast.
As Hurricane Helene hit, Henri, Ian, and Zoe Marlowe found themselves trapped inside their house. They had nowhere to go as everywhere was flooded so they sought refuge by climbing onto the kitchen counters with their cat, Pumpkin.
Ian recalled that as the water levels continued to rise, the increasing pressure forced the door open, allowing a surge of wood to flood into the house. Logs from the nearby lumber yard were carried in by the current.
“We just sat on the counter and the only thing we could do was pray and about 30 minutes later the water started receding,” recalled Ian.
Once the rain stopped, the siblings ventured outside, wading through mud and water. To their astonishment, their house was the only structure left standing amidst the widespread destruction. Henri and Ian attributed their survival to a large dirt berm.
The destruction of property by Hurricane Helene, from a post dated October 4, 2024 | Source: Facebook/henri.marlowe
Henri shared, “My dad built this big dirt berm around the house because he thought it was going to explode and he’d rather have it blow the dirt on the house instead of pieces of the tank hit the house, but since the flood all of the water got directed around the house and it swept everything away but the house.”
Although their father, Brownie, also lived with them, he wasn’t present during the storm due to medical reasons, having recently undergone knee surgery and been diagnosed with cancer. The siblings believe that had he been home, the outcome might have been tragic, as the rising water and mud would have made it difficult for him to escape.
As the water receded further, Zoe documented their journey to safety. Upon surveying their property, the siblings were heartbroken by the devastation.
Several buildings, including a Texaco station and a storage area that housed their father’s antiques, had been swept away. Much of their father’s collection, gathered over decades, was destroyed, along with the siblings’ vehicles, motorcycles, and trucks.
The destruction of property by Hurricane Helene, from a post dated October 4, 2024 | Source: Facebook/henri.marlowe
Despite the extensive losses, the triplets found a few cherished items, including some of their late brother Jason’s favorite toys. These toys, which had been kept by their father as mementos, were recovered from a cow pasture across from their property. The discovery of these toys was one of the few consolations amid the overwhelming destruction.
The destruction of property by Hurricane Helene, from a post dated October 4, 2024 | Source: Facebook/henri.marlowe
Ian explained, “The entire house is completely gone, we haven’t been able to find anything, but these toys were what he played with when he was a kid. So these toys are the most important thing to my dad at the moment and this is all we could save.”
The destruction of property by Hurricane Helene, from a post dated October 4, 2024 | Source: Facebook/henri.marlowe
The triplets managed to leave their home location when their other family members came to get them. It took the family members the whole of September 27, 2024, to locate them and all of September 28, 2024, to get back out.
Though the loss has been immense, the Marlowe family has found strength in their survival and the support of their community. Neighbors have come together to help them recover from the disaster, providing a sense of solidarity during this difficult time.
The triplets are also running a GoFundMe Page to rebuild their lives from the ground up. They welcome financial donations and thoughts, love, and support from everyone who is able to help.
Despite the challenges ahead, the siblings remain determined to rebuild, knowing that their family’s love is what matters most. They also understand that many other people are dealing with a lot including the loss of their property, mourning their loved ones, and looking for missing bodies.
The death toll from Hurricane Helene rose to 227 on October 6, 2024, as recovery efforts continued over a week after the powerful storm devastated the Southeast, affecting six states.
A house along the Broad River in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in Bat Cave, North Carolina, on October 1, 2024 | Source: Getty Images
Hurricane Helene, which made landfall on September 26, 2024, as a Category 4 hurricane, left a path of destruction from Florida as it moved north, washing away homes, damaging roads, and leaving millions without power and communication.
The flooded streets near Peachtree Creek after Hurricane Helene brought in heavy rains over night in Atlanta, Georgia, on September 27, 2024 | Source: Getty Images
On October 5, 2024, the reported fatalities were 225, with two more confirmed in South Carolina the next day. Authorities were still unsure of the total number of people missing, suggesting the death toll could increase further.
The aftermath of Hurricane Helene in Asheville, North Carolina on September 30, 2024 | Source: Getty Images
Hurricane Helene stands as the deadliest hurricane to strike the US mainland since Hurricane Katrina in 2005. North Carolina saw about half of the recorded fatalities, with additional deaths reported in Georgia and South Carolina.
The Marlowe family has seen the magnitude of the destruction Hurricane Helene caused and has urged people to come together and help each other so that as a community, they can get through this.
