CAIRO — A Cairo family is grieving following Hurricane Michael’s tear across the region.

Sarah Radney, 11, was killed Wednesday after being struck by flying debris.

She is the only known fatality from Michael in Georgia to date.

Roy Radney, Sarah’s father, says Sarah’s Monday funeral will be paid for by Pine Hill Baptist Church.

A GoFundMe page set up for the Radney family by Sarah’s aunt, Kim Hendrix, has raised more than $16,000.

The incident which lead to Radney’s death occurred late Wednesday afternoon in Seminole County, Ga. Radney was with her older brother, grandparents and uncle at the time while her father Roy and stepmother Amber stayed with friends in Thomasville.

“We live in a mobile home and (Sarah’s grandparents) live in a newer house, so we thought they were going to be fine,” her father said.

A portable carport next to the house was picked up by the storm’s powerful winds despite being anchored by concrete. The carport was then slammed against the roof of the house, striking Radney in the head and also injuring her grandmother, who suffered a punctured lung, a broken rib and flesh wounds. 

Roy Radney, who had been keeping in touch with Sarah and his family every 30 minutes, knew something was wrong when he answered his phone.

“My brother called me,” Radney’s father said. “He was crying when he called.”

Radney’s grandparents called 911, but emergency responders had difficulty reaching the residence in the midst of the hurricane.

“There were so many trees and power lines down that they had to get heavy equipment and chainsaws just to be able to cut their way through to my parents’ house,” Radney’s father said. “They finally made it there at about 1:50 in the morning.”

Sarah, an honor student at Washington Middle School in Cairo, was described as popular and fun-loving.

“She was involved in the band,” Radney’s father said. “She was involved in drama club. She loved to sing, dance and act. She loved being a kid.”

Sarah’s father said her family has taken her loss hard.

“It’s rough,” Radney’s father said. “One minute we’re OK, the next minute we’re just crumbles.”

Roy Radney was attempting to make arrangements with the sheriff to allow Sarah’s biological mother, who is incarcerated, to attend her daughter’s funeral.

All funds raised from the GoFundMe for Sarah will go to the Radney family “to assist in funeral expenses and the rest of the family who will be out of work for an undetermined amount of time” as well as repairs to the Radney home. Any remaining funds will go to help Sarah’s siblings save for college.

“She brightened everybody’s world,” Roy Radney said of his daughter. “I don’t know how we’re going to do it without her.”