In the midst of Hurricane Helene’s devastating flooding, a set of triplets from Fairview, North Carolina, are grateful to be alive after surviving the storm by climbing onto their kitchen counter and praying for safety. Henri, Ian, and Zoe Marlowe, along with their cat Pumpkin, found themselves trapped inside their home as floodwaters rushed in and their property was swept away.
Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida on September 26 before tearing through western North Carolina, leaving the Marlowe siblings no choice but to seek refuge in the highest place in their kitchen. “We saw the water rising fast, and our best bet was to stay inside and climb onto the kitchen counters,” Ian told WTVD in a recent interview. As the floodwaters surged, the door to their house burst open from the pressure, allowing debris and wood from a nearby lumber yard to pour into their home.
“We just sat on the counter, and the only thing we could do was pray,” Ian recalled. After what felt like a harrowing 30 minutes, the water finally began to recede. Videos shared with WTVD captured Zoe’s panic as water engulfed their property, sweeping away her car and bringing chunks of wood crashing into the house.
Once the floodwaters subsided, the Marlowes took stock of the damage. Both Henri’s truck and Ian’s car were destroyed, along with cherished family heirlooms. Miraculously, among the few items that survived were photographs of their late brother Jason and toy trucks he once played with, a sentimental reminder of what truly matters. “Those toys are the most important thing to my dad right now,” Ian said, holding back tears.
Their father, who lives with the triplets, wasn’t home when the hurricane hit, which the siblings consider a blessing. “He just had knee surgery, he can barely walk, and was recently diagnosed with cancer,” Ian explained. “If he had been here, I don’t think he would’ve made it out. The mud was up to our knees, and the water would’ve swept him away.”
Though their lives have been turned upside down, the triplets are holding onto faith. “This is the worst thing that’s ever happened to us, but the Lord has continued to bless us,” Ian said. A GoFundMe has been established to help the Marlowe family rebuild their home and begin the long road to recovery.
Hurricane Helene has claimed more than 220 lives, with half of the victims from North Carolina. For the Marlowe family, the devastation is personal, but their survival story serves as a reminder of the power of faith and resilience in the face of nature’s fury.
