Ukrainian family escapes war only to face tragedy in NC flooding from Hurricane Helene

A heartbreaking tragedy has struck a family in Western North Carolina who fled the war in Ukraine, only to be swept away by the floodwaters of Hurricane Helene.

Loved ones told WRAL that two family members have been found dead, while two others remain unaccounted for.

A photo shared with WRAL shows Anastasia and Dmytro Segen, and their 13-year-old son Yehveni. Another photo shows the grandmother, Tetyana Notvitnia.

The family fled Ukraine in 2022, seeking refuge in North Carolina after the outbreak of war.

Tragically, they are now among the many victims of Hurricane Helene, fleeing one disaster only to face another.

“We never thought that Ana’s entire family, our entire family would be missing, washed away with the river,” Ricky Wiebe, lives in Los Angeles said.

WRAL spoke with Ricky, whose brother Ryan Wiebe had welcomed his wife Anna Wiebe’s family to live on extra land in Yancey County after they fled Ukraine.

Four of Anna’s relatives were inside a trailer when the floodwaters tore through it.

Four of Ryan wife’s relatives were inside this trailer when floodwaters rushed through it.

As of Monday night, Anastasia and Dmytro are presumed dead, according to Ricky.

“Ana’s mother and the child are still missing,” he said.

From thousands of miles away, Ricky launched a GoFundMe to support his family with both immediate and long-term needs.

“They want to rebuild. They have higher ground where they can do that,” Ricky said. “It’s been their home for many years, and they don’t want to leave. I don’t want them to leave if they don’t want to.”