Donna Fagersten had taken refuge at a friend’s home on the top floor as Hurricane Helene tore through northern Florida, leaving a devastating trail of destruction and more than 100 casualties in the southeastern U.S.
As the storm appeared to calm, the 66-year-old teacher, just days away from her retirement, made a fateful choice to return home to rescue her cat.
When Hurricane Helene hit Florida on September 26, 2024, around 11 p.m., the Category 4 storm triggered flash floods, forcing residents to scramble for safety. One of the hardest-hit areas was Pinellas County, particularly in the Tampa Bay region, where at least 11 people lost their lives.
Among the victims was Donna Fagersten, a second-grade teacher from Ponce De Leon Elementary in Pinellas County.
According to her best friend Heather Anne Boles, Donna was set to retire the following week after dedicating 35 years to teaching. When the storm hit, Donna sought shelter with Boles and her partner, Mike Moran. As the storm surge rushed in, they retreated to the third floor of Boles’ mother’s home, across from the beach where Donna lived.
Boles recalled that as the storm seemed to settle, Donna insisted on going home to check on her cat, despite Boles’ pleas to stay. Tragically, another surge and high winds returned, battering the coastline.
A neighbor later came to their shelter, reporting that someone had been found floating in the parking garage. They quickly pulled Donna from the water and began CPR, but despite their efforts and the arrival of fire rescue by boat, they were unable to revive her.
Detectives later confirmed that Donna had drowned in her home, which had been flooded with water.
Family and friends have since remembered Donna as a “beautiful person” who was deeply committed to her students and community. In a Facebook post, Mary Gleason Lyons, a colleague and friend, described Donna as a dedicated teacher with a big heart, touching the lives of many students over her 35-year career.
Online tributes poured in, with former students and friends expressing their sadness at her passing and remembering her kindness and warmth.
While Boles and Moran are now left to clean up after the floods, which destroyed most of their belongings, the loss of their best friend is what hurts the most. “This is the worst we have ever seen,” Boles said, reflecting on the storm’s destruction compared to Hurricane Irma, where they managed to keep their home and belongings intact.
On a positive note, Donna’s cat survived, and her friends are working to find him a new home.
Hurricane Helene, which cut a destructive 800-mile path northward, left more than 2 million homes without power and claimed over 100 lives, according to USA Today.
Watch Now! Trucker Convoy Makes Dramatic Entrance into Texas Border Town
Truckers and other motorists with the “Take Our Border Back” convoy protest have started to fiIter into Texas ahead of a planned rally in Eagle Pass on Saturday. Additional rallies are planned for major border entry points in San Diego, California and Yuma, Arizona.
Protesters have come from as far away as Jacksonville, Florida and Virginia Beach in order to raise awareness about the ongoing border crisis that has led to record numbers of illegaI aliens flowing into the country. The event is geared towards educating the public on the crisis and pressuring lawmakers to take action, with some protesters coming from as far away as Canada, according to event organizers.
On Saturday morning, on-the-ground reporter Brendan Gutenschwager and Rebel News obtained footage of protesters arriving in arriving at Cornerstone Children’s Ranch in Quemado, Texas, which is located less than two miles from the U.S. border with Mexico. The convoy incIuded 18-wheelers, RV’s, pick-up trucks and other vehicles, many of which were decorated with American flags.
Other protesters were seen traveIing through Uvalde, Texas enroute to the Eagle Pass rally. They were greeted by protesters waving American flags and Trump signs as truckers honked their horns in acknowledgement.
Event organizers have called on “all active & retired law enforcement and military, Veterans, Mama Bears, elected officials, business owners, ranchers, truckers, bikers, media and LAW ABIDING, freedom-loving Americans” to join in peaceful demonstrations, according to the group’s website.
Rallies are scheduled for 12 p.m. central time in Yuma, Arizona and Eagle Pass, Texas, while the San Diego rally is planned for 9 a.m. pacific time. A number of lawmakers and political leaders are expected to address the crowd, which is expected to grow in size throughout the course of the day.
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