Kim Ashby, a middle school math teacher at SanLee Middle School in Sanford, remains missing today after floods caused by Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina on Friday swept away her and her husband’s home in Elk Park, less than two miles from the Tennessee state line in Avery County.

Ashby is among the hundreds still missing or unaccounted for in the western part of the state two days after devastating floods destroyed cities and towns in the region. According to social media posts from Ashby’s family and a story from NBC News, she and her husband Rod were in their mountain home along the Elk River when it was picked up and carried downstream by rising waters.

Rod Ashby was found safe hours later, while search crews continue to search for Kim over 72 hours later.

Ashby’s daughter Jessica Meidinger told NBC News that the family still holds out hope as communication and accessibility in the region have been severely hampered since the storm.

“We’ve been able to piece things together from different accounts of neighbors out the area who have Starlink satellite,” Meidinger said. “It remains scary, but the more touchpoints you get, the more hope you get.”

Ashby is among the many missing people listed on a Facebook group dedicated to finding and reaching those impacted by the storm. Ashby’s home was located at 3 Water Sound in Elk Park, North Carolina, and her husband was found safe about two miles away. A photo taken by a nearby Ring doorbell was shared showing the home floating in the river. Ashby was last seen wearing a red shirt and black pants.

More than 120 people have died — according to most recent updates — in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee from Hurricane Helene, which hit Florida on Friday as a massive Category 4 storm and made its way north to the Appalachian region. Several deaths were a result of drowning, while others were killed in their homes by falling trees or on roads made dangerous by the wind and rain.

The death toll in and around Asheville, North Carolina alone was at 35 on Monday, according to the Asheville Citizen Times. The entire western portion of the state was reeling from flooding, damage caused by the flooding, impassable roads and widespread power and water outages heading into the new week.

Reports of as many as 500 to 700 people remain unaccounted for in the western part of the state. That number remains high because of communications issues in the region, as more than 100,000 homes and businesses were still without power as of Monday.

Image courtesy of N.C. Department of Transportation

News of Ashby’s disappearance reached Lee County Schools officials on Sunday. SanLee Middle School Principal Christian Chaney sent an email to parents that afternoon asking them to join in prayer for her and her family and recognizing that their children may have questions or concerns when they return to school on Monday. 

“We are saddened to share the difficult news that Mrs. Ashby, beloved seventh-grade math teacher, is currently missing after the home she and her husband were in during the storm washed away,” Chaney wrote. “As we come together as a community during this time, please know that our staff is available to provide support to students, staff and families who may need it. Additional district staff to include the Mental Health Team, school counselors and school social workers will also be on campus to provide support during this uncertain time.”

In addition to teaching math at SanLee, Ashby is coach of the school’s chess team and was highlighted in a feature about the game’s growing popularity in Lee County Schools in a feature story from The Rant in June, 2023. In the story, Ashby talked about the joy she received from seeing her students learn the game and get better at it.

“About half the students who join the club have a beginner’s knowledge of chess,” she said. “The improvement I see in just a few short months is amazing. Many of them have quickly advanced and can outplay me now.” 

Governor Roy Cooper is encouraging donations to the North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund to help communities recover from catastrophic damage caused by Hurricane Helene. To donate to the North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund, visit nc.gov/donate.

Lee County Schools announced a partnership with Downtown Sanford, Inc., Visit Sanford and others to collect items for those who have seen their communities and homes devastated by flooding. You can send donation items on the list below with your child to school or you can deliver your items to the Visit Sanford Welcome Center (229 Carthage St.) from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.