When the wind of Hurricane Helena howl and rain fired the coast of Florida, many people were looking for security because she knew the fury of the storm was not nearly over.
Among them was Donna Fagersten, a devoted teacher who retired only a few days away to face the election that would eventually seal her fate.
In the middle of the devastation, Donna made a courageous but heartbreaking decision that would change the lives of those who loved her.
What was supposed to be the last concession in safety has turned into a tragic sequence of events that would mean an unforgettable way of toll storms.
Donna resorted to a friend’s house on the top floor when Hurricane Helene tore northern Florida and left a devastating trail of destruction and more than 100 victims in the southeast US
Donna Fagersten, a devoted teacher, was looking for a shelter on the top floor of a friend’s house when Hurricane Helene devoured the northern Florida and left extensive devastation and required more than 100 lives around the Southeast US
When the storm seemed to calm down, a 66 -year -old, who was just a few days after retirement, decided to return to her house to save his cat. This decision would tragically lead to her death.
Hurricane Helene made Landfall in the evening of 26 September 2024 as a storm of category 4. Blessed floods induced by the storm forced many inhabitants into emergency shelters. Pinellas County, especially the Tampa Bay area, was one of the most difficult affected, with a reported at least 11 deaths.
Among the victims was Donna Fagersten, a beloved second -class teacher in Ponce de Leon Elementary in Pinellas County. After 35 years of teaching she planned to retire.
Donna resorted with her best friend Heather Anne pain and partner pain, Mike Moran, in the House of Boles’s Mother, located opposite the beach where Donna lived. When the storm deteriorated, they resorted on the third floor of the house. Despite Donna’s dangerous conditions, she insisted on returning to her house to check her cat, despite Boles’ plea to stay in place. Unfortunately, the growth of the storm returned, accompanied by a strong wind and defending the coast.
Later, the neighbor arrived at their shelter and informed them that someone was found floating in a nearby parking garage. They rushed to get Donna, manage CPR, but despite their efforts and arrival of the fire brigade teams, Donna could not be revived. The detectives later confirmed that Donna had drowned after her home was flooded with a storm.
Donna family and friends remembered her kindly as a kind and determined teacher, deeply devoted to their students and community. Mary Gleason Lyons, a colleague and close friend, paid tribute to Donna’s impact as a teacher who has touched many lives over the years.
Pouring honors online from former students and friends emphasized its warmth and caring nature. While pain and Moran are left to deal with damage to their home and things from the storm, the loss of their dear friend is their deepest grief. The pain reflected, “This is the worst thing we have ever seen,” he compared devastation with Hurricane Irma when they were able to save their things.
Positive is that Donna Kočka survived suffering and her friends are trying to find a new home.
Hurricane Helene caused 800 kilometers of destruction and, according to the USA, has left over 2 million houses without power and required more than 100 lives.
Conclusion
Donna Fagersten’s cordial loss serves as a reminder of the unpredictable and often devastating forces of nature. As a beloved teacher who gave her students to her students for 35 years, Donna left a browsing an indelible mark on the hearts of those who knew her.
Despite the tremendous destruction caused by the hurricane Helene, love and honor from her friends, family and former students, she emphasizes the deep impact she had on the lives she had touched. While the storm left the path of ruins, including the loss of Donna, the survival of her cat brings her mourning nearby a small level of consolation. As communities rebuild from the debris, Donn’s memory and the kindness she shared with so many, they will undoubtedly live on.