Fate of a mare trapped as Helene floods hit Tennessee captures hearts on social media

Countless horror stories have been shared from the Blue Ridge Mountains in the wake of Tropical Storm Helene, but video of a horse standing stoically in the path of floodwaters has touched a nerve.

The video, filmed Sept. 27, shows Bianca braced against the side of a radio station in Erwin, Tennessee, as the overwhelmed Nolichucky River sent a deluge across Unicoi County.

Bianca was belly-deep when the video was filmed around noon that day. Not long after, the building was completely submerged and reportedly floated away.

Bianca’s fate is unknown and the mystery of her fate is being followed by thousands on social media.

“We are all just praying she turns up downstream somewhere,” the horse’s owner, Halie Higgins, wrote in a Sept. 27 Facebook post.

“We are all just in absolute shock at this freak event. My family did everything they could to get her out. She is loved so very dearly and we want to see her come home.”

Among the challenges, she said, was Bianca’s horse trailer washed away in the rising water.

Unicoi County was hit hard by the former hurricane and remains under a state of emergency. One death has been reported in the county and 47 people remain missing, the state says.

Coffins above ground, washed-out bridges and a hospital surrounded by mud are among the scenes shared from the county on social media.

“Our little town took quite a hit,” Higgins wrote in a Sept. 28 Facebook post.

“Where there was once a major interstate there is now feet of mud. Where there were bridges there is now airspace. Where there were once homes there is nothing left. And most importantly — families have lost loved ones.”

Higgins concedes a missing horse is not a priority amid the devastation, but her video of Bianca facing the flood has continued to be shared on social media. As of Sept. 30, it had 2.9 million views and nearly 10,000 comments and reactions.

“This is horrifying,” Lori Troutman-DeNicola posted on the video.

“It’s all I can think about. It’s awful,” Ingrid Wright Elam wrote.

“I’ve thought about this horse so much. I know there are people suffering. But as a mama of two horses and the kids who love them, this kills my heart,” Michelle Hatfield said.

“My heart is breaking seeing this photo of that poor baby! The helplessness and fear she must have gone through!” Bridgett Large posted.

This story was originally published September 30, 2024 at 7:32 AM with the headline "Fate of a mare trapped as Helene floods hit Tennessee captures hearts on social media."