The loss of life as a result of Hurricane Helene is beyond words. More than 200 people have been confirmed dead so far, including a young brother and his sister.
More than two dozen people have lost their lives in Georgia during the devastating storm. This included two members of the Taylor family, four-year-old Derrick and his seven-year-old sister, Harmony.
When this type of loss occurs, it affects more than the family, it affects the entire community.
On September 26, 2024, the family was at home waiting for the approach of Hurricane Helene. They didn’t know where it was going to hit or what kind of impact it would have, so they were enjoying time with the children.
34-year-old Crystal Taylor, the mother, was on the couch with their 11-year-old child, Cassidy. They fell asleep watching a reality cooking show.
While they were watching TV, Crystal was watching the weather updates on her phone and her husband, Herbert, was sleeping in the bedroom with the other two children, Harmony and Derrick.
The storm came through after midnight moving toward Agusta and crossing through the area. Their town, with a population of about 5500 was located in the storm’s path.
Crystal’s mother had called to check in around 4 AM asking if the trees were still standing. Crystal said that they were but the wind was getting stronger and there was a large oak tree in the backyard.
As the wind strengthened, Herbert went to look outside and saw the cover of his truck lifted into the air.
When he was heading back down to the bedroom where the other two children were sleeping, the house suddenly rocked as the oak tree fell on it. An electrical fire started and Crystal and Cassidy went running to a neighbor’s house to safety.
Cassidy phoned 911 and gave them the address. She said: “A tree fell on top of our house. My 4-year-old brother and my 7-year-old sister are in it. The house is on fire.”
Rescuers arrived and they put out the fire but the oak tree didn’t allow them access to the children. Unfortunately, they were trapped.
Meanwhile, Crystal was trying to reassure herself that her children would be okay. She passed the hours as they were trying to remove the tree envisioning her son asking for his favorite snacks and her daughter wanting some boiled white potatoes.
Unfortunately, the two children passed away instantly when the tree fell on the home.
The family is being supported financially by gifts from the community to the father’s cash app and a GoFundMe page. That crowdfunding page has already reached over $65,000 of the $100,000 goal.