Kobe Williams, mom killed with twins by Hurricane Helene
Nationwide — Kobe Williams, a 27-year-old African American mom and her newborn twin sons, Khyzier and Khazmir, have been named as the youngest victims of Hurricane Helene, as questions emerge about ignored warnings before the storm. The hurricane, which has now claimed over 200 lives, is the deadliest since Hurricane Katrina in 2005, which left more than 1,800 people dead. Rescue efforts continue in the wake of the catastrophic storm, as survivors are still being sought in the devastated southeastern region.According to CBS News, Kobe and her infant sons were tragically found crushed under a fallen tree that had crashed through their home’s roof in Thomson, Georgia. The devastating storm left hundreds missing and nearly 780,000 homes without power, raising concerns about whether more could have been done to alert residents of the storm’s severity.
Obie Williams, Kobe’s father, recounted his last phone call with his daughter, where she told him she could hear the storm worsening. As branches pounded the windows, Kobe promised to shelter in the bathroom with her boys for safety. When she stopped answering calls shortly afterward, a family member arrived to find the unthinkable—the large tree had collapsed, killing Kobe and her one-month-old twins.
The heartbroken grandfather, who had not yet met his grandsons born on August 20, expressed his grief. “I’d seen pictures every day since they were born, but I hadn’t made it out there yet. Now I’ll never get to meet my grandsons. It’s devastating,” Obie shared.
Kobe had been studying to become a nursing assistant but had paused her education to care for her newborns. Described as a loving and strong young woman, she always had a smile on her face and a kind word for others. Her family, many still without power across Georgia, are mourning together as they wait for her and her sons’ bodies to be released for burial.
Despite extensive warnings from the National Weather Service that described Hurricane Helene as “life-threatening” and “catastrophic,” the death toll has continued to rise, particularly in areas like Asheville, North Carolina, where flash floods and mudslides have taken over 70 lives. Emergency alerts and dire forecasts may not have been enough to prevent the massive destruction wrought by the storm.