Donna Fagersten had found shelter on the top floor of her friends’ house as Hurricane Helene tore through northern Florida, leaving destruction in its wake and taking the lives of over 100 people. The powerful Category 4 storm was one of the worst in the region’s history. But even though Donna was safe for the moment, she made a decision that would prove fatal.
“When the storm started to calm down,” the 66-year-old teacher, just days away from her well-deserved retirement, decided to go back home. Her reason? She needed to rescue her cat.
On the night of September 26, 2024, Hurricane Helene hit Florida’s coast at around 11 p.m., unleashing devastating floods that left residents fighting for their lives. One of the hardest-hit areas was Pinellas County, located in the Tampa Bay region. At least 11 people there lost their lives, and tragically, Donna Fagersten was one of them.
Donna had been a beloved second-grade teacher at Ponce De Leon Elementary School. Her retirement was supposed to happen just days later, during the week of September 30, after she’d spent 35 years dedicated to her students. But instead of celebrating a life well lived, her friends and family were left mourning her loss.
That night, as the storm grew stronger, Donna had taken refuge with her best friend, Heather Anne Boles, and Heather’s partner, Mike Moran. Together, they huddled in Heather’s mother’s house, hoping to ride out the storm safely. But the situation quickly grew worse.
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 water came up so fast,” Mike told Fox News. “It maybe had 10 minutes, if that.”
Heather described how the group had rushed to the third floor of her mom’s house when the storm surge came in. The water was rising too quickly, and they had no choice but to climb higher to escape it. Donna’s house was just across the street from the beach, and as the waves crashed harder, her concern for her cat grew.
“When it started to calm down,” Heather recalled, “I begged Donna to stay, but she insisted she needed to check on her cat.”
Despite Heather’s pleas, Donna left the safety of the shelter and headed back to her home. But the storm hadn’t truly calmed. Another surge of water, accompanied by powerful winds, hit the coastline just as Donna tried to make her way to safety. Then, the unthinkable happened.
A neighbor rushed into Heather and Mike’s shelter, bringing terrible news.
“He said he saw somebody floating in the parking garage,” Mike recounted. “So they pulled [Donna] up to the stairs, and Heather and a friend immediately started CPR.”
The floodwaters had risen so high that emergency services had to arrive by boat. For nearly an hour, Heather and her friend tried everything they could to save Donna, but in the end, it wasn’t enough.
“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
“There was nothing we could do,” Mike said, his voice filled with sorrow. “Losing one of your best friends is just devastating.”
Later reports from detectives confirmed what Heather, Mike, and everyone feared. Donna had been found in her home, lying in several inches of water. It appeared that water had rushed into the residence, and Donna had tragically drowned.
A “Beautiful Soul” Remembered
While Hurricane Helene may have taken Donna’s life, it couldn’t erase the impact she had on those around her. Family, friends, and colleagues all came together to remember the woman who had touched so many lives.
Mary Gleason Lyons, a friend and co-worker of Donna’s for over 13 years, shared a heartbreaking post on Facebook.
“People may have lost a lot this hurricane, but we lost Donna Fagersten, who was a beautiful person, a friend, and a teacher,” she wrote. “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.”
The community poured their thoughts and love into the comments section. One Facebook user wrote, “I remember her fondly!! So saddened to hear of her passing.” Another added, “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.”
Yet another commenter shared, “This is heartbreaking. Things like this make you realize how you can’t take anyone or any day for granted.”
Picking Up the Pieces
In the days that followed, Heather and Mike faced the grim task of cleaning up after the storm. The flood had taken nearly everything—furniture, personal items, clothing—it was all gone. But none of those losses compared to the pain of losing their dear friend.
“This is obviously the worst we have ever, ever seen,” Heather said. As a resident of Indian Rocks Beach for 25 years, she had weathered other storms, but this was different. “We lost three trees with [Hurricane] Irma, but we still had our house, we still had all our belongings, and we still had Donna.”
Her voice broke as she added, “And I know there are others out here that lost their lives as well. Just pray for everybody right now.”
In a small bit of comfort, Donna’s cat had survived the storm. Her friends were working hard to find him a safe home, ensuring a piece of Donna’s memory would live on.
The Destruction of Hurricane Helene
Hurricane Helene’s path of destruction stretched 800 miles northward, causing catastrophic flooding and leaving more than 2 million homes without power. Over 100 people lost their lives, and families across the region are now grappling with the devastation left behind.
For those who knew Donna Fagersten, her loss was deeply personal. She wasn’t just another victim of the storm. She was a teacher, a friend, and a “beautiful soul” who gave so much to the people around her. Though the hurricane claimed her life, her memory will remain with everyone whose heart she touched.
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