Context:

The remains of Steven Cloyd, who went missing during Hurricane Helene, were found in Tennessee after 216 days, providing closure for his grieving family. Cloyd and his dog, Orion, were caught in the floodwaters of the Nolichucky River, with Orion being found alive shortly after. The search for Cloyd was a challenging ordeal marked by emotional highs and lows for his family, particularly his son Matthew, who traveled between Illinois and Tennessee to aid in the efforts. Despite the overwhelming conditions, including debris and mud, hope was maintained partly due to the support from local authorities. The discovery of Cloyd's remains, identified by his wedding band, brought peace to his family, with his widow expressing relief and gratitude in a heartfelt social media post.

Dive Deeper:

• Steven Cloyd went missing on September 27 while trying to escape rising floodwaters from the Nolichucky River, as Hurricane Helene impacted the region. His dog, Orion, was found alive, but Cloyd's disappearance left his family in a state of 'numb confusion.'

• After 216 days of searching, a debris removal crew discovered Cloyd's remains on May 1, approximately four miles from his last known location. The identification was confirmed by a medical examiner two days later.

• Hurricane Helene was a catastrophic event, resulting in at least 250 deaths across six states, making it the deadliest hurricane since Katrina in 2005. Tennessee alone reported 19 fatalities, with one person still missing in Washington County.

• Matthew Cloyd, Steven's son, described the search as a 'roller-coaster ride' of emotions, fluctuating between hope and despair. Despite the overwhelming odds, support from the Washington Sheriff's Office helped maintain hope.

• Matthew recounted the difficulty of the search, dealing with massive debris and mud, which made finding his father seem almost impossible. Yet, persistence paid off when two men noticed a flash of light, leading them to discover Steven's wedding band and subsequently his remains.

• The discovery provided much-needed closure for the Cloyd family, with Steven's widow expressing her relief and gratitude publicly. The family's ordeal highlighted the emotional and physical challenges faced by those searching for loved ones after natural disasters.