Arizona Man Lost His Home, But Not His Family

As the summer comes to an end and fall begins to rear its head, the southeastern United States gets ready for their fifth season: Hurricane Season.

Year in and year out, these massive storms make landfall in SEC country. Sometimes they're nothing more than minor inconveniences, but occasionally, they can remind us why Mother Nature isn't to be taken lightly.

From Florida to Arizona

Gene Lower is a photographer for the Arizona Cardinals, and he loves his work. He and his wife just recently decided to make a big change and move to Florida, specifically St. Pete in the Tampa area. A little less than two months after their move, tragedy struck.

On September 26th, 2024 Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida as a Category 4. It tore through western and central Florida, before making its way north, and wreaking havoc on Appalachia. Helene is considered one of the most powerful storms to ever hit the U.S., and Lower didn't know if there would be a home to go back to.

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Family Stands Strong

When the Lowers returned to their home on St. Pete Beach, it was chaos. The water damage could be seen from outside the home, and almost everything inside was torn apart and waterlogged. The biggest hit was Lower's photographs, decades of negatives, slides, and prints, all ruined by an act of divine malice.

One thing remained untouched though: the ashes of their son, who passed away last year. His urn stood upright in the corner he'd been in since the move, holding out hope that he'd get to see his parents again. He has no idea how much it means to them.

The home is currently undergoing repairs and hey should be ready to move back in in a couple months.

[FOX10]