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.
Mom And Dad Going Viral After Birth Of Black Baby Because Both Are White
A baby’s birth is always cause for celebration, particularly when, after months of waiting, it’s time to finally see them in person. Nothing compares to touching our babies for the first time, even though ultrasounds allow us to glimpse them in the womb.
Babies frequently astonish us with their special qualities, such as adorable dimples or a hairy head. The most unexpected development, though, is when the child no longer resembles either of its parents.
This is what occurred to a family whose tale gained widespread attention and sparked internet rumors and speculation. Continue reading to learn what transpired.
At the Tennessee Celina 52 Truck Stop, Rachel works as a cashier. She gave birth to her son Cash Jamal Buckman on February 17. However, what caught people’s attention was that, although Cash appeared to be black, Rachel and her fiancé, Paul Buckman, are both white.
The truck stop wished Rachel luck with her new baby and shared a photo of the content family on Facebook.
The tweet said, “We are happy for our cashier Rachel and her fiancé Paul Buckman on the birth of their baby, Cash Jamal Buckman, on Saturday at 6:18 p.m.”
Nevertheless, the message drew criticism rather than support, with some speculating that Paul might not be Cash’s biological father.
Celina 52 Truck Stop updated their article to confirm that Paul is the father in response to the rumors. Due to her African American ancestry, Rachel may jump generations and give birth to a child who has darker complexion.
They concluded the post with the words “Please be kind,” and mentioned that Cash might have jaundice, which is common in newborns.
Internet jokes and queries persisted even after the truck stop responded.
Someone posted: “Happy birthday! He certainly looks like his father. What is his location?
Another person wrote, “Definitely needs a DNA test; what if they accidentally mixed up the kiddos in the nursery?”
Meanwhile, there were many who sympathized with Paul. “I feel bad for Paul, being duped like this is a whole new level of creep,” someone commented. Maybe he’ll come to his senses.
At that point, Rachel made the decision to take action on her own. She shared what she believed to be her DNA results on Facebook to demonstrate her ancestry.
Perhaps the results of my heritage DNA would dispel the naysayers’ claims that I [don’t] have black DNA. NOW QUIT discrediting my reputation and the name of my fiancé, Paul Buckman. “He truly is Lil Cash’s father,” she added.
However, the jokes persisted, and a good number of them ridiculed the circumstance and questioned the accuracy of the test findings.
It’s the strongest one percent I’ve ever seen. Someone said, “Looks like Maury has a job here.”
With comparable DNA, a second member commented, saying, “I have that too… and both my babies still look Irish as a boiled potato.”
The story swiftly gained popularity on social media, inspiring hundreds of individuals to share their feelings and opinions. Users from TikTok also jumped into the chat, contributing their own humorous perspectives on the situation.
Celina 52 Truck Stop announced that they would be administering polygraph and DNA testing to their employees in response to persistent rumors. The announcement incited even greater outrage, and many are now impatiently awaiting the conclusion of the probe.
This unexpected change of events has garnered a lot of attention, turning a routine birth announcement into a global sensation—even if nobody knows the whole truth.
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