The aunt of two sisters who tragically passed away in the Texas floods has opened up about how they were discovered.
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Brooke and Blair Harber, aged 11 and 13, were staying with their grandparents, Mike and Charlene Harber, along the Guadalupe River near Hunt, Texas, when a month’s worth of rain fell within hours, causing the river to surge 26 feet and unleashing devastating flash floods across Kerr County and beyond, per KTVT.
The floods, which swept away cabins, mobile homes, and vehicles as families gathered to celebrate Independence Day, have claimed the lives of more than 100 people, with many others still missing, officials confirmed, per the Independent.
“My brother and his wife Annie identified the bodies of my nieces Blair age 13 and Brooke age 11 yesterday afternoon about 12 hours after the flood that started the morning of July 4th at 3:30AM,” their aunt, Jennifer Harber, wrote on GoFundMe.
“My parents Mike and Charlene Harber have not been found as of now. Prayers are needed so we can bring them home.”
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Brooke and Blair were found deceased 15 miles away in Kerrville, while the search for their grandparents remains ongoing.
“When they were found, their hands were locked together,” Jennifer shared on the fundraiser.
The girls’ parents, RJ and Annie, tried to check on the girls and their grandparents around 3:30AM but could not reach them due to the rising water.
Around that time, Brooke texted her grandparents, “I love you,” just before the floodwaters overtook the cabin.
The sisters, students at St. Rita Catholic School in Dallas, are being remembered for their faith, kindness, and joyful spirits.
The school shared: “Even in their last moments, they held tightly to each other, a powerful symbol of their lasting bond and their trust in God.”
Blair, who was about to enter eigth grade, was described as “an outstanding student enrolled in advanced classes and actively involved in school activities.”
She “played volleyball, basketball, lacrosse, cheered for the St. Rita cheerleading team, and served as a Student Ambassador, proudly guiding prospective families through the school.”
Blair also participated in the yearbook team, speech and drama, and was “excited to audition for the lead role in the 8th-grade play,” with the school adding that “she had the kindest heart and loved to serve others.”
Brooke, set to enter 6th grade, “was an excellent student who brought joy and energy wherever she went.”
She was “an accomplished soccer, basketball, volleyball, and lacrosse player, known for her spirit and determination.”
She “loved speech and drama and had a particular gift for improv that brought smiles and laughter to those around her,” and “never met a stranger and loved everyone she met.”
The tragedy has deeply impacted the St. Rita community, where Annie, the girls’ mother, is a faculty member.
The school stated: “This tragedy has touched every corner of our hearts. In this time of deep sorrow, we stay grounded in our faith and united in love.
We will stand with the Harber family in the days to come, surrounding them with our prayers, compassion, and unwavering support.”
Jennifer also told KHOU: “Please help us find my parents so we can have closure and bring them home.”
More than $314,000 has been raised on GoFundMe to support the Harber family in the aftermath of the devastating loss, with a joint funeral planned for Blair and Brooke at St. Rita.
“We are beyond devastated and so heartbroken,” Jennifer shared. “Prayers are much appreciated, and what we needed at this time.”