Mother Recounts Terrifying Moment During Hurricane Helene as Tree Crashes onto Children’s Bed
Crystal Taylor, a mother and teacher, has shared the heartbreaking experience of living through Hurricane Helene, describing the terrifying moment a tree crashed onto the bed where her children were sleeping. Taylor is one of the millions affected by the deadly hurricane, which has claimed at least 160 lives across six states.
The storm has forced the closure of hundreds of roads, leaving many people stranded without vital supplies, while millions continue to suffer from power outages.
In the early hours of Friday, September 27, Crystal Taylor was asleep with her eldest child, Cassidy, after watching TV in their Georgia home. Her seven-year-old daughter, Harmony, and four-year-old son, Derrick, were curled up together in the same bed.
That morning, Crystal received a call from her mother, asking if the trees in their yard had survived the severe weather. Her husband, Herbert, went outside to check, but just as he did, a massive oak tree crashed into the room where Harmony and Derrick were sleeping. Herbert’s panicked scream, “My babies!” filled the air.
Crystal and Cassidy rushed to a neighbor’s house for help, and rescuers quickly arrived, managing to extinguish an electrical fire that started when the tree fell. Despite their efforts, they were unable to remove the enormous tree.
In an emotional interview with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Crystal recounted the terrifying ordeal, crying out, “I can’t get to my babies!” She admitted she was too scared to call for her children, fearing they might respond while she was helpless to reach them. Despite her overwhelming fear, she clung to hope, telling herself, “My babies are gonna come out. They’re gonna be all right.”
Rescue teams worked tirelessly for five hours to cut through the fallen tree, only to deliver the heartbreaking news that both Harmony and Derrick had tragically lost their lives. The children are lovingly remembered by their family—Harmony as a “natural dancer” and Derrick for his love of graham crackers.
The siblings shared a close bond, often sleeping in the same bed with Harmony wrapping her arms around her younger brother. In keeping with this, they will be laid to rest together at their funeral, scheduled for Sunday, September 6.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to support the family through this difficult time, with donations helping to cover funeral expenses and assist them in finding a new home.