Daughter honors missing mom 1 year after Helene flooding
Share this @internewscast.com

One year after Helene’s floodwaters carried Kim Ashby away, she remains among a handful of people still missing from the storm.

AVERY COUNTY, N.C. — In the months following the disappearance of her mother, Kim Ashby, in the floodwaters of Helene, Jessica Meidinger visited the Avery County site where Ashby was last observed. For Meidinger, the natural recovery of the landscape since September 2024 was evident.

“My brother and I went up there for Mother’s Day,” Meidinger shared. “We walked through much of the river and the areas we had once searched, and it’s astonishing how swiftly Mother Nature reclaims her territory.”

For Meidinger, moving forward is not as simple.

“Facing the reality that a year is approaching and feeling as though this is still surreal,” she expressed. “I mean, I still catch myself thinking about calling her.”

On the morning of Sept. 27, 2024, Ashby, along with her husband Rod, woke up in their newly built retirement home in Avery County. They had traveled to the High Country to secure the property, and the nearby Elk River had swelled overnight due to rainfall, even before Helene touched down in the Carolinas.

“They heard a cracking noise,” Meidinger recounted. “Something had struck the house, and one of its footers had come loose. Consequently, the entire house slid into the river.”

As their home careened down the swollen river, Rod tried desperately to save Ashby and their dogs.

“He was able to navigate the debris to reach her,” she stated. “They collided with a large tree and were sent in opposite directions. That’s the last moment anyone saw my mom.”

Rod survived the ordeal, but Ashby was lost to the raging waters.


In the days that followed, family, neighbors, and complete strangers joined together in an extensive search effort. Thousands shared her picture online and donated recovery funds for the family. A GoFundMe page, which remains active, raised $78,000 out of its goal of $100,000.

“Just so much beautiful humankind, caring-for-one-another kind of people came out,” Meidinger said of the community response. “A lot of western North Carolina — they took care of their own 100%.”

But week by week, every search turned up empty-handed.


In November, the family made the difficult decision to hold a celebration of life for the teacher of more than 20 years, knowing she was still out there somewhere.

“Some of her students came out, which is wonderful, and other teachers,” Meidinger said. “We wanted it to be a celebration of life, of all the good and all the kind things that she put out in the world and how much she helped kids grow.”


Just before Thanksgiving, on the property where her mother once dreamed of having her first white Christmas, Meidinger and other loved ones decorated a tree. The gesture was an effort to make a loss that Meidinger calls “surreal” more tangible.

“It felt emotionally like it wasn’t a real thing because to be able to see a body or to be able to know that that exists, I think, unlocks something in your brain, unlocks something emotionally that allows you to kind of process in a different way,” she explained.


Now, on the first anniversary of the day her mother was taken from her, closure feels complicated for Meidinger, much like the mountain land that brought her family so much joy and loss.

“Maybe this is meant to be her final resting place,” Meidinger said. “If we were to find her in the future, great, but if not, we can be at peace knowing that she’s in a place that she loves.”

As of April 2025, a report from the National Hurricane Center showed at least five people remained missing in western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee due to Helene.

Vanessa Ruffes: Contact Vanessa Ruffes at vruffes@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.  

Download WCNC+ on your Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV or Samsung device, and stream the news that impacts you for free.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Alaska pilot seeks SCOTUS relief in case in which three beer cases led to forfeiture of $95k plane

Alaska Pilot Appeals to Supreme Court Over $95K Plane Forfeiture Stemming from Three Beer Cases

An 82-year-old bush pilot from Alaska is taking his legal battle to…
Massie Faces Trump-Backed Primary Challenge Kentucky Race

Massie vs. Trump: High-Stakes Showdown in Kentucky’s Pivotal Primary Race

Kentucky Republican Rep. Thomas Massie is preparing for a fierce primary battle…
NYC socialist mayoral candidate Mamdani's 911 plan called 'worst idea' by former NYPD

Former NYPD Criticizes NYC Mayoral Candidate Mamdani’s Controversial 911 Reform Proposal

Mamdani calls for ‘reorganizing’ NYPD 911 response In a mayoral debate held…
Suspect Keon King charged with murder in death of Philadelphia woman Kada Scott; new details revealed

Philadelphia Tragedy: Keon King Faces Murder Charges in Kada Scott’s Death – Latest Updates Unveiled

PHILADELPHIA — Keon King, the man initially arrested in connection with the…
Bernie-Endorsed Maine Senate Candidate's Campaign Implodes As Dems in Disarray Hits Fever Pitch

Maine Democrats Face Backlash Over Controversial Policies: A Step Too Far?

In a surprising twist from Maine, Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner…
Eight Americans arrested in Bahamas after authorities discover 'high-powered weapons' cache, ammunition

Shocking Discovery: Eight Americans Detained in Bahamas for Hidden Arsenal of High-Powered Weapons

In a significant operation on Tuesday, eight American citizens were detained in…
ABC's 'World News Tonight' anchor David Muir honored by Temple University

ABC’s David Muir Receives Prestigious Honor from Temple University for Excellence in Journalism

PHILADELPHIA — Temple University recently hosted a celebration honoring outstanding achievements in…
A timeline of US attacks off South America and what Congress has had to say

Exploring the Chronology of U.S. Military Actions off South America: Congressional Insights and Reactions

WASHINGTON (AP) — Over the past two months, President Donald Trump and…
Chicago crash: 1 arrested in attempt to hit federal agents in vehicle near Ogden, 26th Street in Little Village, Cicero police say

Chicago Incident: Suspect Arrested in Alleged Vehicle Assault on Federal Agents in Little Village, Cicero

CHICAGO — In a dramatic incident on Chicago’s Southwest Side on Wednesday…
How inflatable costumes ballooned at anti-Trump rallies due to a Portland protester's frog outfit

Inflatable Costumes Take Center Stage at Anti-Trump Rallies, Inspired by Portland Protester’s Frog Attire

In Portland, Oregon, a unique form of protest unfolded when Seth Todd…
No CTA trains will run on Chicago Loop elevated rails this weekend for track work, including Brown, Green, Orange and Pink lines

Chicago Loop Train Shutdown: No CTA Service on Brown, Green, Orange, and Pink Lines This Weekend Due to Track Maintenance

Attention, commuters! This weekend, the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) has announced a…
US chess grandmaster’s mom speaks out as questions remain over death, Russian rival faces probe

Mother of U.S. Chess Grandmaster Breaks Silence Amid Ongoing Investigation into Russian Rival Following Son’s Mysterious Death

In a heartfelt revelation, the mother of Daniel Naroditsky, a former grandmaster…