Pregnant Woman Survives Hurricane Helene by Floating on Mattress

Emily Russell endured eight harrowing hours in floodwaters before being rescued by her husband in North Carolina.

Emily Russell, heavily pregnant, was trapped in her Swannanoa home as Hurricane Helene's floodwaters rose rapidly.
With no escape route, Russell and her dog clung to a floating mattress for eight hours, fearing for their lives.
The storm's force broke down her home's front and back doors, inundating the interior with neck-high water.
Russell's husband, David, eventually reached her, providing a critical rescue from the dangerous conditions.
Hurricane Helene has claimed at least 200 lives, with 1 million people still without power in the southeastern U.S.