Topeka man survives Hurricane Helene

TOPEKA (KSNT) - An anniversary celebration turned into a dystopian survival story for a few Topekans who were trapped in the middle of Hurricane Helene.

Justin Glasgow and his wife lived through part of the storm.

"When we got there it was raining, it wasn't horrible," Glasgow said. "And then that Thursday night, that's when the warnings started coming in, and then Friday morning we were in it."

Months ahead of their anniversary, Glasgow and his wife planned to meet another Topeka couple in Asheville, North Carolina for a joint celebration. But they never could have expected what they were in for.

"It was just pouring buckets of rain," Glasgow said. "You can't see more than 10 feet out of the window, it's just coming in sheets and the wind is going crazy. We went from being hotel guests to using the hotel as a shelter."

Starting last Friday, staff kept everyone at the hotel, as large trees trapped them inside. And as the world was coming down around them, Glasgow says they found a few silver linings while stuck in the hotel.

"They were scheduled to have two weddings that weekend," Glasgow said. "Over 175 guests per couple were supposed to come in for this event, and we ended up being a part of their wedding party on that Saturday."

After reflecting since his return, Glasgow says it was eye-opening learning what living through a hurricane is like.