DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) – When the death toll rose by three Thursday, the Reed family held their breath waiting for word from authorities.

On Monday, Grant Reed’s two granddaughters— 9-year-old Lily and 12-year-old Chloe— along with their mother went missing after the Tennessee wildfires destroyed their home. He and his family packed their bags and headed to Gatlinburg to join the search. He said it’s been a roller coaster of emotions over the past 72 hours.

“My heart and my head are in a race with each other. My heart is we’re going to find them, we’re going to find them…my head is saying it’s been since Monday,” Grant Reed said.Related:Gatlinburg father searches for wife, daughters after fire

Grant Reed said he had a few seconds of hope when officials announced that three people had been rescued, but his heart sank when he learned they were not his daughter-in-law or grandchildren. During that same news conference, authorities also raised the death toll to 11, a chilling feeling that lead to a restless night.

As of Thursday afternoon, the death toll rose again to 13, but there is still no word on the Reed family.

“We hold one to that hope, but it is human nature just to wrestle constantly with what are you going to do if it’s good, what are you going to do if it’s bad,” Grant Reed said. “Time has really slowed down. We’re waiting for answers and every minute takes an hour and it’s wearing on us. It’s too much for me too.”

The grandfather also hopes to help his son and grandson through the possibility of the worst. A Gofundme account was set up by their co-workers to help the family regroup from the devastating wildfires.

“He needs us there. He has nobody there other than co-workers and that can only take you but so far,” Reed explained. “If it is bad, I pray that I’m with him when hears that, because he’s not going to accept it.”