Two weeks after Hurricane Helene ravaged North Carolina, the search for missing teacher Kim Ashby continues, leaving her family and community in anguish.
Kim Ashby, a beloved teacher, mother, sister, and friend, has been missing since floodwaters from Hurricane Helene swept away her vacation home in North Carolina two weeks ago. Her family has been desperately searching for her, but their hope dwindles with each passing day.
Jessica Meidinger, Ashby's daughter, told Fox News that the sudden surge of water caught her parents off guard. "Everything happened really quickly. There was not a whole lot of flooding, and suddenly there was just a surge of water," she explained.
Missing North Carolina Teacher Still Elusive After Hurricane's Devastation
Ashby's husband, Rod, managed to escape the wreckage and clung to his wife, but they were separated when their home struck a tree in the raging river. Rod was later found safe, but Kim remains missing.
"We've had tons of help, which is amazing and kind of really speaks to how well this story has been shared and how meaningful she's been to a lot of strangers," Meidinger said.
Missing North Carolina Teacher Still Elusive After Hurricane's Devastation
However, the search has been challenging, despite the outpouring of support. "We've had complete strangers saying, 'Hey, your mom's story has touched me. I'm headed there with ATVs to help.' I know the National Guard's been on site. We've had a ton of FEMA resources," she said.
But as time goes on, the resources available to find Ashby dwindle. "FEMA has had to redeploy their resources to help other families in need, which we totally understand. We don't want to suck up those resources. We don't want to keep other families from being helped like ours," Meidinger explained.
Missing North Carolina Teacher Still Elusive After Hurricane's Devastation
Despite the setbacks, Ashby's family remains determined. "One hypothesis, according to posts circulating across social media, including one shared by Meidinger herself, is that Ashby could be in an uninhabited and inaccessible area beyond the falls of the Elk River," the article states.
Ashby's absence has left an immeasurable void in her community. Described as "selfless" and "compassionate," she has dedicated over 20 years to teaching in North Carolina, leaving an enduring impact on her students.
Missing North Carolina Teacher Still Elusive After Hurricane's Devastation
"We've had students that were her students this year. We've had students from 20 years ago reach out and tell us their story and how my mom has helped them through their difficult home life and made sure that they were fed and that they got home safely and showed up on weekends to their baseball games," Meidinger said.
Ashby's family is grateful for the support they have received but remains heartbroken over her disappearance. They urge anyone with information to come forward and assist in the search for their beloved mother, sister, and friend.
