ELK PARK, N.C. — Three Triangle siblings are on a desperate search for their mom after Hurricane Helene ripped through her and her husband’s vacation home in Elk Park Friday.

What You Need To Know

  • Meidinger family is in desperate search of mom, grandma and Sanford teacher Kim Ashby

  • Ashby was last seen wearing red shirt, black pants

  • Anyone with information is asked to text a Meidinger family friend at 919-723-7801

Nobody has heard from her since, and search and rescue teams are combing through the area.

“They tried to get out of the window to get to higher ground and at that point the house was taken," Jessica Meidinger said, recounting the harrowing story her stepfather told her.

Meidinger describes a scene straight out of Hollywood. The flood waters picked up the house from its foundation, sending it down river with the rushing water.

“And they got together and got their three dogs on a mattress, and they were just kind of on that mattress as the house was floating down the river, and it hit a bridge, and that's what caused the house to collapse on them," Meidinger said.

But this is no movie, it's a nightmare that Meidinger is forced to relive until her mom, Kim Ashby, is found.

“Then they hit a tree, and that's what separated them in the water," Meidinger said. “Our stepdad, he was floating and able to grab a tree that was hanging and able to pull himself out of the water and searched and could not find mom at that time."

That was Friday morning, the last time anyone saw Ashby. Meidinger said her stepfather is still searching.

“He’s distraught right now. He's been going up and down the river, day in day out doing everything he possibly can," Chris Meidinger said.

Ashby’s children said their mom and stepdad went to their Elk Park vacation home in anticipation of Helene. They just wanted to secure some valuables at the new home, which has now been destroyed.

“She’s our biological mother, but she’s been a mother to many," Jessica Meidinger said.

Meidinger said her mom, a SanLee Middle School teacher in Sanford, was last seen wearing a red shirt and black pants.

Her children can only pray and scour social media.

“We're terrified, obviously want to do anything we can to help, want to go up there and search for her but being around family right now is the most important thing," Jessica Meidinger said.

The Meidinger siblings said search teams were on site Tuesday looking for Ashby.

Ashby’s children said to message 919-723-7801, only if you have real information.