Twin babies and mom tragically lost in Hurricane Helene, thought to be youngest victims
Heartbreaking loss as twin infants and their mother are believed to be the youngest lives taken by the storm
The destruction left in the wake of Hurricane Helene has been catastrophic, and the devastation is still being uncovered. As of Tuesday, over 230 lives have been lost across six states, and hundreds remain unaccounted for.
Among the victims are two five-week-old twin boys, Khyzier and Khazmir Williams, and their mother, Kobe Williams, who died when a tree fell on their mobile home in Thomson, Georgia.
Kobe Williams’ mother, Mary Jones, recalls the terrifying night when Hurricane Helene struck. “Nobody was taking the storm seriously,” Jones told Today.com. But as the winds picked up and the lights went out, it became clear that the hurricane was far more dangerous than anyone anticipated. “Kobe got really scared. She was worried about the babies,” Jones said, describing the increasing anxiety they felt as the storm raged outside their home.
Throughout the night, Jones and her daughter stayed awake, listening to the storm. Around 5:15 a.m., Jones fed one of the twins, Khyzier, so Kobe could try to rest, though sleep was difficult amidst the chaos. Eventually, Jones dozed off, leaving her daughter awake to watch over the children. Shortly after, a loud noise jolted her awake—a “strange shushing” followed by an eerie silence.
What Jones discovered next was every parent’s nightmare. A massive tree had crashed through her daughter’s bedroom. Desperately, she called out for Kobe, but there was no response. “I started screaming, ‘Kobe! Answer me! Please answer me!’ It was so dark and I couldn’t see anything except branches.”
Neighbors rushed to help, but the debris was too thick to reach the family. When police arrived, they confirmed what Jones feared the most: her daughter and the twins were gone. The officer’s words, “It’s bad, don’t go in there,” echoed in her mind. “I lost it,” she recalled in shock and grief.
Jones’s granddaughter, Markeya, later revealed that Kobe had been cradling her boys when the tree collapsed on them. “She was trying to protect them,” Markeya said. The young mother’s final act was one of love, shielding her babies from the storm, even though all three tragically lost their lives.
Hurricane Helene has become the deadliest hurricane to hit the U.S. mainland since Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and as residents work to recover from the devastation, many in the southeast are preparing for another potential disaster. Hurricane Milton is now approaching the Tampa Bay area, threatening even more destruction.
This disaster has left countless families shattered. The loss of Kobe and her twin boys is one of many heartbreaking stories from Hurricane Helene’s wrath. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those affected by this tragedy.
Please share your thoughts and prayers in the comments below, and remember to keep those impacted by the storm in your hearts during these difficult times. Stay safe, and be prepared as we brace for the storms ahead.
