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.
In a shocking turn of events, pop sensation Lizzo has been removed from consideration for the Super Bowl LVII Halftime
In a shocking turn of events, pop sensation Lizzo has been removed from consideration for the Super Bowl LVII Half time Show following a series of disturbing allegations made against her by former dancers.
The allegations include claims of sexuaI harassment and fat-shaming, which have cast a shadow over Lizzo’s self-proclaimed image as a body-positive activist. This unexpected development has sent shockwaves through both the entertainment industry and Lizzo’s fanbase, leaving her team scrambling to salvage her career and reputation.
Earlier this month, three of Lizzo’s former backup dancers, Crystal Williams, Noelle Rodriguez, and Arianna Davis, filed a lawsuit accusing the singer of fostering a hostile work environment.
The lawsuit sent ripples through the media, particularly due to Lizzo’s public advocacy for body positivity and self-acceptance. The controversy has brought her career into question, prompting the NFL to swiftly drop her from consideration for the coveted Super Bowl Halftime Show perfor mance, a spot she was rumored to be one of the front-runners for in 2024.
A source close to the NFL reveaIed that talks of Lizzo’s involvement in the Halftime Show or even performing the National Anthem have been quashed in the wake of these allegations.
Despite Lizzo’s vehement denial of the accusations, the potential damage to her image and career seems insurmountable at this point. The abrupt removaI from the Super Bowl consideration has sent shockwaves through her fanbase, industry insiders, and media outlets alike.
As Lizzo’s potential career-saving opportunities dwindle, her team faces an uphill battle to counteract the negative press and public sentiment.
A source revealed that her team is desperately trying to come up with a strategy to save her sinking ship. The source further discIosed that the situation is becoming increasingly challenging as more people come forward with similar accusations against the artist. The allegations are eroding her image as an icon of body positivity and empowerment, leaving many questioning her authenticity and integrity.
Despite the immense success and significant earnings Lizzo has enjoyed throughout her career, it appears that her moment in the spotlight is at risk of fading away.
The source asserted, No one knows if she will be able to recover from this. If she speaks out, her statements are shredded. If she stays quiet, she is called a coward. Either way, it does not appear at this moment that she can recover from this.
The impact of the allegations has been magnified by the fact that they are coming from indivi duals who were a part of Lizzo’s inner circle. In an interview with Good Morning America, Crystal Williams, Noelle Rodriguez, and Arianna Davis shared their experiences, revealing stories of alleged harassment and mistreatment.
The dancers claimed that Lizzo created an environment that was both se xuaIIy charged and hostile. These allegations directly contradict Lizzo’s image as a champion of body positivity and empowerment, raising concerns about the authenticity of her public persona.
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