In a miraculous tale of survival, a North Carolina couple used a couch as a life raft amid the chaos of Hurricane Helene.

Howard and Lisa Ray credit their faith for surviving the disastrous flooding that swept their home away as they clung to their floating sofa, the Christian Post reported.

Unexpected Storm Turns Deadly

When Hurricane Helene struck as a Category 4 storm, it first made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend region this past September. The hurricane unleashed its fury across multiple states including Georgia, the Carolinas, Virginia, and Tennessee, causing widespread and catastrophic damage.

In Pensacola, North Carolina, Howard and Lisa Ray faced the storm’s brutal force firsthand. Their ordeal began late at night when their trailer was rapidly submerged under the rising floodwaters. Howard, a lieutenant with the Pensacola Volunteer Fire Department, and his wife Lisa had no conventional means of escape.

Rays' Remarkable Escape on a Couch

As the waters invaded their home, Lisa found herself instinctively sitting on their couch, which unexpectedly began to float. Howard described the terrifying moment, recounting how he held on to his wife, who feared they would drown. The rising floodwaters carried them along the Cane River for 400 yards.

In a desperate move to survive, Howard instructed Lisa to jump off the couch as they approached a safer area. She grabbed onto a barbed-wire fence, using it to pull herself out of the water, though it left her with severe cuts on her hand.

Temporary Refuge and Loss

After their harrowing escape from the waters, the Rays took shelter in a garage for several hours until the flood receded. Their survival journey did not end there; upon returning to their home, they discovered that they had lost everything—their residence, and their vehicles were destroyed by the floods.

Howard returned to their community despite his losses to assist his fire department. Meanwhile, Lisa was hospitalized due to her injuries, and it was during her stay at the hospital that she learned of the tragic death of her friend Michelle Quintero, who became a victim of the flooding.

Community Support and Continued Assistance

The local community has rallied to support the Rays in the aftermath of Helene. The Pleasant Valley Baptist Church has arranged accommodations for the couple for one year, utilizing donations from their disaster relief fund. This gesture is part of the widespread support efforts to aid those affected by the hurricane.

The Chaplain Mitch Collier from the volunteer group Cajun Navy 2016 also played a crucial role in the rescue operations. Collier voiced his criticisms of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's slow response yet found strength in his faith to help others during this crisis.

A Reunion and Reflections on Survival

Adding a glimmer of hope to their ordeal, Howard and Lisa were reunited with their dog, Saddi, two days after the storm. This reunion was a small yet significant morale boost for the couple amidst their losses.

Reflecting on their experience, Howard expressed a resilient spirit, emphasizing the importance of perseverance in the face of adversity. His wife Lisa shared a similar sentiment, acknowledging their miraculous survival as an act of divine intervention. “The trailer started filling up, and it’s like [God] opened a piece up and I just had to sit down on that couch, and we floated out,” she recounted.

Strengthened by Faith and Community

As they continue to recover and rebuild their lives, the Rays’ story stands as a testament to human resilience and the power of community support in times of disaster. Their faith, which they credit as the cornerstone of their survival, remains a profound element of their journey toward recovery.

The story of Howard and Lisa Ray, surviving a hurricane on a floating couch has captivated many, serving as a stark reminder of nature’s power and the unexpected ways one might find salvation in moments of despair.