Hurricane Helene: a story of survival against the odds

Overwhelmed by the floods caused by Hurricane Helene, a dog is found alive days later, clinging to a tree. An emotional rescue that reminds us of the value of life, even that of our four-legged friends

The last, Hurricane Helene, a Category 4 storm invaded the eastern seaboard of the United States on September 26th claimed at least 227 lives cross six states bringing death and destruction.

Among the scores of stories of devastation left in Helene’s wake, one story has captured many hearts-one which we had covered here. This is not a story of loss but an astonishing rediscovery of hope. The protagonist is Athena, a little dog hailing from Jonesboro, Tennessee, that experienced an incredible ordeal that culminated in an unexpected rescue.

The hurricane brought torrential rains and flooding that swept along entire communities along the Nolichucky River. Like so many others, Athena’s family had to flee their flooded home in a rush, bringing only the barest essentials. In the chaos and panic of the moment, Athena was left behind. When her family returned to find her, the situation had already turned desperate: their home had been swept away by the rushing waters.

Days turned into Athena looking lost, her family destroyed by the thoughts of losing her and starting to make preparations for worst outcomes. Then, an unexpected turn of events happened.

On Wednesday, October 2, as the river began to recede, firefighters from Kingsport’s Fire Department were assessing damage when a K9 rescue dog started acting peculiarly. Trained to look for victims and survivors in rubble, the bloodhound hounded incessantly, going in the totally other direction of the rescuers.

“The bloodhound was walking calmly, then out of nowhere started barking hysterically,” Captain Zach Helvey recalled to WCYB News. “I turned around and looked up—I couldn’t believe my eyes, there was a dog stuck in a tree.”

There Athena was, clinging onto the branch, terrified but alive. Whether she had been lifted there by the surging floodwaters or had found the tree herself in desperation during high tide was a mystery, but rescuers did not waste any time. They found a ladder among the debris and climbed up to reach her. With a little food and knowing that finally she was safe, Athena went down willingly, burying herself quickly in the rescuers’ arms.

Back on solid ground, Athena greeted her saviors with much affection. “She was thanking us,” Zach Helvey said. Photos and videos of the rescue-which were taken by the firefighters themselves and posted online-viralized in no time and finally reached Athena’s owners.

The moment Athena’s family saw her alive and well was simply indescribable. “I was crying; I was laughing. I couldn’t believe it,” an emotional owner of Athena said. Having lost everything to the hurricane, being reunited with Athena represented a glimmer of hope amid the devastation. “It was like seeing a light at the end of the tunnel,” she added.