Donna Fagersten, a 66-year-old teacher, found herself in a terrible situation during Hurricane Helene as it crashed into northern Florida, bringing disaster to the southeastern U.S. The hurricane had already claimed over 100 lives, and Donna was safely sheltered on the top floor of her friends’ house. But as the storm seemed to calm down, she made the heartbreaking decision to leave and rescue her cat.
It was September 26, 2024, and Helene hit Florida around 11 p.m. as a Category 4 hurricane. The intense storm caused major flash flooding, forcing many people to flee for their lives. Among the worst-hit areas was Pinellas County in the Tampa Bay region, where at least 11 people lost their lives, including Donna, a beloved second-grade teacher at Ponce De Leon Elementary School.
Donna had been living in Indian Rocks Beach and was just days away from retirement, having taught for 35 years. Her best friend, Heather Anne Boles, who had known her for many years, shared that Donna had been planning to retire at the end of September. But when the storm hit, Donna had chosen to ride it out with Heather and Heather’s partner, Mike Moran.
“The water came up so fast,” Mike told Fox News. “It maybe had 10 minutes, if that.”
Heather, Mike, and Donna all rushed to the third floor of Heather’s mom’s house to seek safety. The house was right across the street from where Donna lived, and they hoped to stay safe as the storm surge battered the beach. Heather remembered how scared they all were as the floodwaters rose. “We all went to my mom’s house and got on the third floor when the storm surge rushed in,” she said.
At one point, the storm seemed to quiet down, and that’s when Donna decided she wanted to check on her cat. Heather begged her to stay, fearing that the storm was still too dangerous. “When it started to calm down, I begged her not to go,” Heather said, but Donna insisted on going back to her place to rescue her pet.
Water beginning to come over walls off the beach in Indian Shores. Also, as the sheriff said earlier…someone is gonna “win a stupid prize…” #HurricaneHelene pic.twitter.com/jLISw266dt
— Pinellas County Sheriff's Office (@SheriffPinellas) September 26, 2024
The storm hadn’t fully passed, though. Another powerful surge, along with violent winds, continued to hit the area. Then, a neighbor burst into the home where Heather and Mike were staying. “[He] said he saw somebody floating in the parking garage,” Mike recounted. It was Donna. The neighbor had pulled her out of the water and brought her to the stairs.
In a desperate attempt to save her, Heather and a friend started performing CPR on Donna. The water had risen so high that the fire rescue team had to arrive by boat. They tried for nearly an hour to revive her, but there was nothing more they could do. “Losing one of your best friends is just devastating,” Mike said, clearly heartbroken.
The official report from Eye on Tampa Bay stated, “Detectives say Donna Fagersten was located in several inches of water inside her residence. It was apparent that water entered the residence and Fagersten appeared to have drowned.”
The community was heartbroken over the loss of such a wonderful person. Donna wasn’t just a teacher; she was a cherished friend and a role model for many. Her friends and family described her as a “beautiful person.”
“We lost 3 trees w/ Irma, but we still had our house, we still had all our belongings & we still had Donna.”
— Kylie Jones Fox 13 (@kyliejonesontv) September 30, 2024
Donna Fagersten is one of 9 in Pinellas Co. who died during #HurricaneHelene. Hear from her best friend who tried to save her life, on @FOX13News at 6.
📸: Meliza Zamora pic.twitter.com/ap2uYpcLYG
In a heartfelt Facebook post, Mary Gleason Lyons, who had worked with Donna for 13 years, shared the painful news of Donna’s passing. “People may have lost a lot this hurricane, but we lost Donna Fagersten, who was a beautiful person, a friend, and a teacher. I worked with Donna for over 13 years, and she has touched the lives of so many students. I am so saddened by this and will miss her. She was dedicated to her students and had such a big heart.”
Many others in the community expressed their grief, sharing how much Donna meant to them. One person wrote, “I remember her fondly!! So saddened to hear of her passing.” Another commented, “She was one kind-hearted woman, and if you knew her, you would never forget her. Such a beautiful soul to lose from so many people.
God rest her soul.” A third person added, “This is heartbreaking, things like this make you realize how you can’t take any one or any day for granted.”
Meanwhile, Heather and Mike were left dealing with the destruction of their own home. The fatal floods had taken nearly everything from them, including their furniture, personal belongings, and clothes. But the loss of their best friend was the most unbearable. “We lost three trees with [Hurricane] Irma, but we still had our house, we still had all our belongings, and we still had Donna,” Heather said, reflecting on the devastation.
“This is obviously the worst we have ever, ever seen.”
Despite the tragedy, there was a small bit of comfort: Donna’s cat had survived the storm. Heather and her friends are now working to find a safe home for the beloved pet.
Hurricane Helene was one of the most devastating storms in history. According to USA Today, the hurricane’s 800-mile path northward caused historic flooding, left over 2 million homes without power, and took more than 100 lives. Donna Fagersten’s tragic death serves as a reminder of just how dangerous and unpredictable these storms can be.
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