Donna Fagersten had taken refuge at a friend’s home on the top floor as Hurricane Helene tore through northern Florida, leaving a devastating trail of destruction and more than 100 casualties in the southeastern U.S.
As the storm appeared to calm, the 66-year-old teacher, just days away from her retirement, made a fateful choice to return home to rescue her cat.
When Hurricane Helene hit Florida on September 26, 2024, around 11 p.m., the Category 4 storm triggered flash floods, forcing residents to scramble for safety. One of the hardest-hit areas was Pinellas County, particularly in the Tampa Bay region, where at least 11 people lost their lives.
Among the victims was Donna Fagersten, a second-grade teacher from Ponce De Leon Elementary in Pinellas County.
According to her best friend Heather Anne Boles, Donna was set to retire the following week after dedicating 35 years to teaching. When the storm hit, Donna sought shelter with Boles and her partner, Mike Moran. As the storm surge rushed in, they retreated to the third floor of Boles’ mother’s home, across from the beach where Donna lived.
Boles recalled that as the storm seemed to settle, Donna insisted on going home to check on her cat, despite Boles’ pleas to stay. Tragically, another surge and high winds returned, battering the coastline.
A neighbor later came to their shelter, reporting that someone had been found floating in the parking garage. They quickly pulled Donna from the water and began CPR, but despite their efforts and the arrival of fire rescue by boat, they were unable to revive her.
Detectives later confirmed that Donna had drowned in her home, which had been flooded with water.
Family and friends have since remembered Donna as a “beautiful person” who was deeply committed to her students and community. In a Facebook post, Mary Gleason Lyons, a colleague and friend, described Donna as a dedicated teacher with a big heart, touching the lives of many students over her 35-year career.
Online tributes poured in, with former students and friends expressing their sadness at her passing and remembering her kindness and warmth.
While Boles and Moran are now left to clean up after the floods, which destroyed most of their belongings, the loss of their best friend is what hurts the most. “This is the worst we have ever seen,” Boles said, reflecting on the storm’s destruction compared to Hurricane Irma, where they managed to keep their home and belongings intact.
On a positive note, Donna’s cat survived, and her friends are working to find him a new home.
Hurricane Helene, which cut a destructive 800-mile path northward, left more than 2 million homes without power and claimed over 100 lives, according to USA Today.
Fаns fееl sоrry fоr Jеnnifеr Lореz аftеr Веn Аfflесk’s рhоtоs with Jеnnifеr Gаrnеr wеnt virаl
With the few exceptions of celebrities who have stayed together for years and are still going strong, most Hollywood marriages eventually end up in divorce, and the public is always eager to learn more when A-list couples start to separate. Recently, the media has been obsessed with the relationship between Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck, who tied the knot in July 2022 following a second engagement.
Rumors of Trouble in Paradise
Amid rumors of their split, photos of Affleck and his ex-wife Jennifer Garner have gone viral, heating the speculations even further. The former couple has been seen together in Santa Monica, which has stirred up various reactions on social media. Some fans of Lopez have expressed their displeasure, with one person calling Garner “a dаngеrous, obsessed woman, using kids to control a weak man, one with addiction and depression issues.”
Another fan added, “I’m happy Affleck and Garner split because him being unhappy with her was the reason for his alcohol addiction.”
However, others fondly remember the days when Affleck and Garner were together. “Ben and Garner are the real ‘Bennifer.’ They belong together with their kids but Ben is a fool,” one commenter nostalgically remarked.
Co-Parenting and Moving On
The reality is that Affleck and Garner have remained friends who co-parent their children effectively. They have been seen hugging on occasion, dressed casually during their outings. Affleck was spotted in blue jeans, a gray long-sleeved top, and white Air-Jordan Nikes, while Garner opted for gray slacks, a long-sleeved black top, and sunglasses.
Interestingly, it appears that Garner and Lopez also get along well. A source close to them described their relationship as “very cordial and very healthy and functioning.”
Garner, who has entered a new relationship following her divorce from Affleck, is reportedly happy with her current family dynamics. A source close to her stated, “Garner is in a great space and feels good about where things currently stand with her new family dynamics.” The source also added that Affleck and Garner “have open communication and both are working to make this transition the best it could possibly be.”
Affleck’s Professional Success
While many believe that Affleck’s personal life is falling apart, his professional life is thriving. In August, the film he co-produces and stars in, “The Instigators,” will be released. This serves as a reminder that despite the turbulence in his personal relationships, Affleck continues to find success in his career.
In the world of Hollywood, where relationships are often under the microscope, Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner, and Jennifer Lopez are navigating their personal dynamics while maintaining their professional commitments. Their ability to co-parent effectively and sustain cordial relationships amidst rumors and public scrutiny is commendable.
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