Hurricane Matthew: Homeless woman wades through neck-high floodwater to safety

SAVANNAH, Ga. — Floodwaters, caused by Hurricane Matthew, several feet deep submerged a long stretch of President Street, which links downtown Savannah to the highway to Tybee Island.

Cassandra Coleman and her boyfriend were stopped in her car at the impasse Saturday morning when they saw a woman wading through floodwaters waters up to her neck.

1:02 Hurricane Matthew death toll nears 900 in Haiti

• Hurricane Matthew death toll nears 900 in Haiti
• Hurricane Matthew wreaks havoc on the U.S. East coast
• More flooding, less wind damage expected from Hurricane Matthew over the weekend
• NASA releases dramatic video of Hurricane Matthew from space
• Hurricane Matthew leaves trail of destruction across Caribbean

Previous Video

Next Video

“We thought she was going to fall. She kept staggering through,” Coleman said.

The shivering woman made it to the water’s edge. A bystander handed her a sheet, which she wrapped around her neck.

READ MORE: Hurricane Matthew: death toll continue to climb in Haiti, now almost 900

“I’m homeless,” said the woman, who identified herself only as Valerie. “I’ve got nine kids but I couldn’t evacuate with them.”

She said she weathered the storm under a tent near an overpass that crosses the low-lying road. But then floodwaters washed it away.

“It wiped out our tent, our tarp and washed away all our blankets and clothes,” she said.

READ MORE: Hurricane Matthew downgraded to Category 2 storm as it lashes Atlantic coast

She left with a bystander who offered to assist her in finding help.