In a tragic incident on Friday, September 27, 2024, four members of a family lost their lives while trying to escape Hurricane Helene. Alison Wisely, her two sons, Felix and Lucas, and her fiancé, Knox Petrucci, from Green Mountain, North Carolina, died when their car got caught in rising floodwaters.
They had to leave the car and tried to go back to their home, but a strong wave swept them into the Toe River. A witness who warned them of the danger tried to help, but couldn’t save them. The family was identified through photos, and their car was later found by the river, with a dog left behind at their house.
Recovery Efforts
Alison’s body was found in Tennessee on October 4, 2024, and her sons, Felix and Lucas, were found the next day. After a long search, Knox’s body was recovered on October 7, allowing the family to be brought together and given a proper farewell.
Remembering Alison, Knox, Felix, and Lucas
Alison was known for her wisdom and her deep love for her children. As a mother, she encouraged Felix and Lucas to be creative and imaginative. She worked as the Sanctuary Operations Manager at Carolina Memorial Sanctuary, where she helped others through their grief with compassion.
Knox was a skilled beekeeper, artist, and musician, passionate about the environment and dedicated to protecting bees. He lived true to himself and showed endless love and care to those around him.
Felix, a curious 9-year-old, was fascinated by nature and supernatural stories. He even co-hosted a podcast with his mother about these topics. Lucas, at 7 years old, was bright, funny, and full of imagination. He loved dressing up as superheroes and spreading joy to others.
The family had been planning to celebrate Alison and Knox’s wedding on November 9, but their lives were tragically cut short. A GoFundMe has been set up to help with their memorial, and Carolina Memorial Sanctuary is covering the funeral costs. Donations will go toward supporting the family and honoring their memory.
Heartfelt Tributes
Knox’s sister, Briana, shared an emotional tribute to her brother, Alison, Felix, and Lucas. She remembered Alison as a wise and loving partner to Knox and talked about their meaningful conversations about life and the afterlife. Briana also spoke lovingly of Felix and Lucas, describing them as the “brightest, most magical, and funniest little souls.” She shared the deep pain of losing her brother and the boys and promised to continue living by Knox’s values of love, kindness, and being true to oneself.
Briana also offered her sympathies to Alison’s former partner, Lance Wisely, and his family. Lance wrote his own heartfelt tribute to his children, remembering the joy, creativity, and love they brought into his life. He expressed deep gratitude for Knox, who loved his sons like his own, and for Alison, a dedicated and loving mother. Lance recognized the overwhelming sadness felt by everyone who knew the family and thanked the community for their support during this difficult time.
Another Family Devastated by Hurricane Helene
In addition to the tragic loss of the Wisely-Petrucci family, the Taylor family from Georgia also faced a heartbreaking loss during Hurricane Helene. Crystal Taylor, her husband Herbert, and their three children were at home when a large oak tree fell on their house. Sadly, their 4-year-old son Derrick and 7-year-old daughter Harmony were killed. Despite efforts to save them, the children were trapped under the tree, leaving the family in deep grief.
Community Support
Both families have received an outpouring of love and support from their communities. Donations through GoFundMe and other platforms are helping to cover funeral costs and provide financial help as they cope with their heartbreaking losses. The kindness and generosity from the public have brought some comfort to the grieving families during this difficult time.
As the families of Alison, Knox, Felix, Lucas, Derrick, and Harmony grieve, their communities continue to support them with prayers, donations, and emotional care to help them through their loss.