NORTH CAROLINA – A single pink rose blossomed on a scraggly bush next to where the front wall of the Drye family home stood until 16 days ago, the plant’s greenery a welcomed brightness amid the mud-coated land. Two thorny offshoots, each holding a single unopened bud, clung defiantly to the bush. Despite floodwaters rising 27 feet above the road, the plant persevered, its leaves now soaking up the bright Asheville sun. A smattering of plants and at least one tree also remained standing when the waters receded after Tropical Storm Helene. But it was the trio of roses that Megan Drye took solace in on a Sunday afternoon in mid-October.

She believes they are a sign from her parents and young son, who perished when the family’s home collapsed into the Swannanoa River on Sept. 27. Megan, 39, was the sole survivor of the flood, which killed 7-year-old Micah Drye and Nora and Michael Drye, both 73.

Micah was just one of the children lost in the storm. Nine-year-old Felix Wisely and his 7-year-old brother, Lucas, also died. At least one other student from Buncombe County Schools is confirmed dead, and roughly 20 remained unaccounted for Monday. Superintendent Rob Jackson said the district is “continuing to search” for them. There are hopes many are safe with family. As the nation’s attention turned to Florida and the devastation wrought by Hurricane Milton, North Carolina is still reeling from Helene, mourning those confirmed dead and holding vigil for those still missing.

In Buncombe County, home to Asheville, at least 72 have died, the largest share of western North Carolina’s 124 confirmed deaths so far, according to USA TODAY Network analysis. Authorities expect the death toll to rise as search and rescue crews continue recovery efforts. Megan Drye and her family are trying to pick up the pieces and focus on remembering how their loved ones lived, rather than how they died. (Yahoo)

Foto: Seven-year-old Lucas Wisely, left, and his 9-year-old brother Felix in an undated photo. The boys, their mother Alison Wisely and Alison’s fiance, Knox Petrucci, died in flooding from Tropical Storm Helene…[+]