GREEN MOUNTAIN, N.C. — A Yancey County community is mourning the loss of a family of four following Hurricane Helene's catastrophic arrival to North Carolina weeks ago.
According to a release from family members, Alison Wisely, along with her sons Felix and Lucas Wisely (ages 9 and 7) and her fiancé Knox Petrucci, evacuated their home in Green Mountain, a town in western North Carolina.
Eyewitnesses said the family went to their car to flee the area when it began to float in the flooded road. When the family exited the car to try to go back to their house, they were swept away by floodwaters.
Family members who spoke with Alison and Petrucci said the couple prepared for the storm but only expected their basement to flood.
According to the release, they felt protected at their home in the mountains because a disastrous weather event like Helene had never happened in the area before.
Flooded water levels reached just below the ceiling of the family's single-story house.
Alison and Petrucci were set to get married next month in Burnsville.
While the family tragically lost their lives in the water, some of their pets remained in the home. Search and rescue crews found Reishi, the family's cattle dog, floating on a mattress in one of the house's bedrooms. The closed door had been stuck shut from the water absorption. She was taken in by a neighbor.
Allison Wisely worked as a Sanctuary Operations Manager at Carolina Memorial Sanctuary guiding others through their times of grief. Knox was a beekeeper, manager and community educator at Honey & the Hive in Weaverville. Felix loved all creatures and was fascinated by the weather. Lucas loved exploring the outdoors and was known for his humor, kindness and caring nature. All of their bodies have been recovered.
Private services will be held in Yancey County to honor the family's lives.
More photos of the Wisley, Petrucci family
Lance Wisely, the boys' father, shared the following statement:
“I would like to express my gratitude to the people who loved and cared for my children. Their mother, Aly (Alison), who was an excellent mother and co-parent. Knox, who the children were excited to call their step-dad. My partner, Sarah Sheahan, who worked tirelessly to care for them in life, during the recovery efforts, and after we learned of their deaths. Alison’s parents, Bruce and Kathy, who have always been there for us, whatever we might need. Ankha, who gently, truly listened to them. The EMS workers of Yancey and Mitchell counties, and the Bradshaw Fire Department in particular. The dispatcher who went far out of her way to give us the most accurate accounting she could. Michelle Moral and other neighbors who have gone above and beyond to support us on the ground. Parents who have given us friendships and playdates and birthday parties. The professionals who do their jobs with love: teachers and administrators, their pediatrician, the Kith and Kin facilitators, group leaders at extracurriculars. Their amazing dentist, who worked carefully with the pathologist to bring our boys home one last time. In particular, I would like to thank Rachel Maietta and her amazing staff, not only for the magic they work at Mountain Breeze Preschool, but for guiding me as I learned to be a cycle-breaking father caring for tiny hearts. So many have reached out in the wake of this disaster to tell me how the community was touched by our family. Our family was touched by all of you. You have all been an essential part of this journey, and I am forever grateful.”
Briana Petrucci Yarbrough, Knox Petrucci's sister, shared the following statement:
“I would like people to remember my brother Knox as a person who brought together community and was always seeking meaningful connections with others. He deeply wished to create roots and understand his own. Many of our conversations were about mapping our family tree and we had dreamt of many plans to travel to the lands from where our ancestors came. As with many people in the LGBTQIA community, Knox had lost a lot of community early on in his life, and still grappled with that loss. However, this is only part of his story. He built a beautiful life with a central focus on family and friends who were like family. He was deeply grateful to have Alison, Felix, and Lucas in his life. As a sister, I was so impressed with how Lance, Sarah, Aly, and Knox co-parented, creating a home environment for them to bloom. It was evident how loved those boys felt, and how free they felt to be their colorful, vividly imaginative selves. He embraced being part of the Appalachian beekeeping, arts, and queer communities. Knox had described to me with gratitude the neighborliness of the people of Burnsville and Green Mountain, saying how even though people came from many sides of the political spectrum, if someone needed help their neighbor would come through. Our family would like to thank all the neighbors, and helpers in the community who were holding our hands through while we were searching from afar, being our eyes and boots on the ground to try and locate our loved ones, and grieving with us as we try and process what has happened. We love you all.”