Final Victim of Hurricane Helene Found Two Years After Devastating Storm

The remains of Nancy Tucker, 76, the last victim of Hurricane Helene to be found, were discovered in rural Washington County, Tennessee, nearly two years after the storm devastated Appalachian mountain towns with catastrophic flooding. Her remains were found on Saturday, concluding a search that began after the Nolichucky River overflowed its banks on September 27, 2024.

Nancy Tucker disappeared along with her husband, Jimmy Tucker, when their home was swept away by the floodwaters. Jimmy Tucker's body was recovered within days of the storm, but Nancy's had remained missing until this past weekend. Susan Saylor, spokesperson for the Washington County Sheriff’s Department, confirmed the discovery and identification, which was made by a medical examiner on Monday afternoon.

The couple's son, who was at work when the flood struck, was the only survivor from the household.

Hurricane Helene caused widespread destruction from Florida to the Carolinas, resulting in over 250 fatalities and nearly $80 billion in damage. In the mountainous regions bordering North Carolina and Tennessee, rainfall exceeding 30 inches (76 centimeters) transformed small streams into powerful torrents, carrying away trees, boulders, homes, and vehicles, and breaking flood records that had stood for a century. Many victims were lost to the swift currents.

In North Carolina, the body of Alena Ayers, another victim of the hurricane, has never been recovered. Her case prompted the North Carolina legislature to pass Alena’s Law, which facilitates the declaration of death for individuals missing after a natural disaster.

The search for Nancy Tucker in Tennessee focused on a section of the Cherokee National Forest known as Jackson Island. Search crews faced significant challenges, including debris piles that reached up to 40 feet high, composed of trees, rocks, vehicles, and propane tanks. The area, designated as federal land and potentially containing Native American burial sites, restricted the use of heavy equipment for debris removal. Local responders had to wait for federal authorization and a contract for the removal work, which was only awarded in the summer.

James Matthews of the local Emergency Management Agency reported that search crews had covered over 400 miles on foot since February. "On Saturday, I got the call that I’ve been waiting for for two years — just four days after the operation began," Matthews said. He described the emotional moment of discovery, stating, "The moment we found a clear indication that this was Mrs. Tucker, everyone on the scene — we stopped. We cried. All of us cried. And we prayed."

Jimmy and Nancy Tucker had been married for 44 years, having met while serving in the U.S. Army. Washington County Sheriff Keith Sexton had pledged to find every missing person after the storm, a commitment that guided the sustained search efforts. "There was never a question of stopping," Saylor emphasized, highlighting the dedication to providing closure for grieving families.