Donna Fagersten had taken refuge at a friend’s home on the top floor as Hurricane Helene tore through northern Florida, leaving a devastating trail of destruction and more than 100 casualties in the southeastern U.S.
As the storm appeared to calm, the 66-year-old teacher, just days away from her retirement, made a fateful choice to return home to rescue her cat.
When Hurricane Helene hit Florida on September 26, 2024, around 11 p.m., the Category 4 storm triggered flash floods, forcing residents to scramble for safety. One of the hardest-hit areas was Pinellas County, particularly in the Tampa Bay region, where at least 11 people lost their lives.
Among the victims was Donna Fagersten, a second-grade teacher from Ponce De Leon Elementary in Pinellas County.
According to her best friend Heather Anne Boles, Donna was set to retire the following week after dedicating 35 years to teaching. When the storm hit, Donna sought shelter with Boles and her partner, Mike Moran. As the storm surge rushed in, they retreated to the third floor of Boles’ mother’s home, across from the beach where Donna lived.
Boles recalled that as the storm seemed to settle, Donna insisted on going home to check on her cat, despite Boles’ pleas to stay. Tragically, another surge and high winds returned, battering the coastline.
A neighbor later came to their shelter, reporting that someone had been found floating in the parking garage. They quickly pulled Donna from the water and began CPR, but despite their efforts and the arrival of fire rescue by boat, they were unable to revive her.
Detectives later confirmed that Donna had drowned in her home, which had been flooded with water.
Family and friends have since remembered Donna as a “beautiful person” who was deeply committed to her students and community. In a Facebook post, Mary Gleason Lyons, a colleague and friend, described Donna as a dedicated teacher with a big heart, touching the lives of many students over her 35-year career.
Online tributes poured in, with former students and friends expressing their sadness at her passing and remembering her kindness and warmth.
While Boles and Moran are now left to clean up after the floods, which destroyed most of their belongings, the loss of their best friend is what hurts the most. “This is the worst we have ever seen,” Boles said, reflecting on the storm’s destruction compared to Hurricane Irma, where they managed to keep their home and belongings intact.
On a positive note, Donna’s cat survived, and her friends are working to find him a new home.
Hurricane Helene, which cut a destructive 800-mile path northward, left more than 2 million homes without power and claimed over 100 lives, according to USA Today.
Johnny Depp’s 24-Year-Old Daughter Turns Heads in Bold Pink Crop Top and Skirt
Lily Depp’s recent appearance at a Chanel event caused a lot of talk online because of her outfit. One comment even suggested that she wasn’t fully dressed for the occasion.
Lily-Rose Depp attended the Chanel and Charles Finch dinner at The Polo Lounge, Beverly Hills Hotel, on March 9, 2024, just before the 96th Academy Awards in Los Angeles. The event highlighted Chanel’s link to the film industry and had many celebrities in attendance.
For the evening, Lily-Rose chose a stylish yet bold outfit. She wore a light pink eyelet tube top that showed off her slim midsection and paired it with a low-rise black and white knee-length skirt. She completed her look with elegant black heels.
Lily-Rose Depp and Kristen Stewart were at the Chanel and Charles Finch dinner at The Polo Lounge, Beverly Hills Hotel, on March 9, 2024. Lily-Rose had her hair styled in a sleek bun, which highlighted her face and outfit.
Her appearance sparked a lot of discussion online as photos and videos from the event spread across social media. Reactions to her outfit were mixed. Some people didn’t like her fashion choice, with comments like, “The first photo with the skirt almost falling off. Not so much. Beautiful girl though,” and “Lmao her skirt tho. Girl!! It’s about to fall off.” Others offered unsolicited advice, such as, “Lily my clothes are more elegant than that lol I can help her get dressed next time. She will be better dressed.”
Leave a Reply