A 27-year-old woman made a final promise to her father to protect her newborn twins from the devastating impact of Hurricane Helene. With her one-month-old sons, she sought refuge in her home, hoping they would stay safe. Unfortunately, fate had other plans.
As Hurricane Helene swept through Georgia, the storm left behind a path of destruction, claiming 33 lives, including those of Kobe Williams and her twin boys, Khyzier and Khazmir. The twins, who were only one month old, are the youngest victims of the hurricane, a tragic reminder of the storm’s ferocity.
Just before the disaster, Kobe’s father, Obie Williams, had spoken to her. Kobe assured him that she would follow his advice and take shelter in the bathroom with her children. However, moments after their call, Obie was unable to reach her again. He knew something had gone terribly wrong.
Later that day, one of Kobe’s brothers braved blocked roads and downed power lines to check on her. When he arrived, he discovered that a large tree had crashed through the roof of Kobe’s trailer, crushing her and her twin sons. The impact left none of them alive.
The loss shattered the Williams family. Obie, reflecting on the tragedy, said, “I’d seen pictures of my grandsons every day since they were born, but I hadn’t met them yet. Now I’ll never get to meet them. It’s devastating.”
Hurricane Helene, which had already wreaked havoc across Florida, intensified as it moved into Georgia. By the time it reached Thomson, the storm had grown into a monster, with powerful winds and torrential rains that overwhelmed the region. Kobe, who had been unable to evacuate with her newborns, stayed in her trailer, hoping it would provide enough protection. But the storm’s force was too much.
Across five states—Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Virginia, and the Carolinas—over 200 lives were lost due to Hurricane Helene, leaving countless families heartbroken. For the Williams family, the loss was especially devastating. Kobe, described by her father as strong and always smiling, had been well-loved by all who knew her. Her dreams of becoming a nursing assistant were put on hold after the birth of her twins on August 20, and now, tragically, those dreams will never be realized.
As the family prepares for the funeral, the weight of the loss is overwhelming. “That was my baby,” Obie said of his daughter, adding that everyone loved her.
News of Kobe Williams’ tragic death, along with her twins, has spread across social media, drawing heartfelt responses from people across the country. Many expressed their sorrow and shared their prayers for the grieving family.
One commenter wrote, “When I first heard of this, I broke down and cried. She was so scared and was physically protecting her babies. Now, she and her babies are in the arms of Jesus. Prayers for the family.”
Another mother shared her feelings, “This is heart-breaking. As a mother myself, I can only imagine her panic. Growing up with storms, I’ve always feared the worst.”
Hurricane Helene has become one of the deadliest storms to strike the U.S. mainland in recent history, surpassing the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
The storm initially made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane near Perry, Florida, with sustained winds of 140 mph. Although it weakened as it moved inland, its torrential rainfall caused widespread destruction across an area over 500 miles wide.
Authorities are still assessing the full scale of the damage as emergency responders continue to provide aid to the hardest-hit regions. Relief funds are being set up to help the victims, and officials urge people to contribute through organized channels rather than sending unsolicited donations or attempting to visit disaster areas.
In a related tragedy, the storm also claimed the life of a beloved schoolteacher, Donna Fagersten, just days before she was set to retire. Fagersten, a second-grade teacher at Ponce De Leon Elementary in Florida, died after floodwaters overwhelmed her hometown of Indian Rocks Beach. Friends described her as an integral part of the community, making her loss even more painful.
Hurricane Helene’s widespread devastation continues to be felt, with families like the Williams and Fagersten’s left to pick up the pieces after unimaginable loss.
