In addition to reports covering the heartbreaking story of two girls who lost their lives in the Texas floods, their community has shown their family support and started a GoFundMe page to assist their loved ones.
A family in North Texas is facing a devastating loss after sisters Blair Harber, 13, and Brooke Harber, 11, died in the Hill Country flooding. Adding an extra layer of grief to the story is the fact that the late young girls’ grandparents, Mike and Charlene Harber, are still missing following the flash floods in central Texas that have claimed the lives of at least more than 80 people.
The heartbreak for the Harber family deepened when the bodies of young Blair and Brooke — identified by their parents, R.J. and Annie Harber — were discovered 15 miles from where the floodwaters had swept them away. The search for the girls ended tragically on Saturday, July 5, 2025, in Kerrville, nearly 12 hours after the catastrophic flooding ensued.
Their aunt, Jennifer Harber, shared the heart-wrenching detail that when the sisters were found, their hands were locked together, a silent testament to the unbreakable bond they shared, even in their final moments.
Jennifer recounted the harrowing ordeal that unfolded in the early hours of the morning, when a fierce storm struck and woke her brother and the late girls’ father, R.J., at around 3:30 a.m. Upon discovering their home already filling with water, R.J. and his wife, Annie, sprang into action.
They attempted to reach the nearby house where their daughters and R.J.’s parents, Mike and Charlene, were staying, only to be confronted by dangerously high floodwaters.
According to Jennifer, the water levels were so high that R.J. and Annie had to break out a window, and by the time they managed to get outside, they were unable to reach the house where their loved ones were.
In a desperate bid to rescue them, the couple woke up their neighbors — likely saving them from being taken out by the floods — to borrow a kayak, but the current proved too rough.
Ultimately, R.J. and Annie had to be rescued themselves — left helpless as their loved ones remained trapped. Now, as they mourn the loss of Blair and Brooke, the family continues to hold out hope for Mike and Charlene.
Jennifer has made a heartfelt plea to the public, asking, “Please help us find my parents so we can have closure and bring them home.”
In the wake of unimaginable loss, friends of the Harber family launched a GoFundMe campaign to ease the heavy burden left behind by the tragedy — emotionally, logistically, and financially. Organized by six family friends, the fundraiser has already garnered over $169,000 of its $200,000 goal.
The campaign, shared widely online, calls for prayers, support, and solidarity for the Harbers. Attached to the fundraising page are snapshots of the family. One photo captures all three generations gathered in matching holiday pajamas in front of a glittering Christmas tree.
Another shows the girls, beaming in sundresses and standing beside their grandparents. Each image speaks volumes about the closeness of the family and underscores the heartbreak of their sudden separation.
In her emotional message on the GoFundMe page, Jennifer provided more context for the day that changed everything. She revealed that the girls had been tucked into bed around 11 p.m. in a neighbor’s riverfront home. The neighbor had generously offered to house the family since Mike and Charlene’s own residence nearby was too small to accommodate everyone.
A view of the flooding at the Guadalupe River in Kerrville, Texas on July 5, 2025. | Source: Getty Images
Blair and Brooke were upstairs in the loft, while their grandparents stayed in the guest room below. When the storm struck, the deafening rain masked the sound of rising floodwaters. R.J. and Annie woke up just in time. Had they not, Jennifer believes they may have drowned too.
Trees taken down by the devastating floods in Kerrville, Texas on July 4, 2025. | Source: Getty Images
“Transmitters were going off everywhere. It was pitch dark. By the time they got out the water was up to Annie’s chin. They said they were surprised they didn’t have hypothermia it was freezing waters. RJ, Annie and the other 5 they woke somehow made it to a house on the other side of the flooded highway and strangers let all 7 in [sic],” Jennifer explained.
She also described how the family’s Labrador miraculously escaped and somehow found its way across a flooded highway to safety. Tragically, their second dog did not survive.
By the time the flood receded, only a handful of houses (about four to six) remained standing out of 20 in the gated community of Casa Bonita in Hunt, Texas.
Adding another layer of sorrow to the ordeal, Brooke had sent a text message saying “I love you” to her dad and maternal grandparents at 3:30 a.m. She and her big sister, both deeply spiritual, had their rosaries with them and frequently talked about their faith. Blair had even spoken with Jennifer about heaven just two weeks prior.
“What RJ and Annie went through that morning was a nightmare. They were rescued that afternoon but were stuck in Hunt the Coast Guard couldn’t even get to them. Annie was rescued by helicopter and I think RJ attempted another way earlier to get help [sic],” Jennifer divulged.
The fundraiser also confirmed funeral plans: Blair and Brooke will have a joint service at St. Rita Catholic Church in Dallas. Their return home from San Antonio will be arranged through Southwest Airlines, where their aunt, Jennifer, works as a flight attendant.
A rescue team navigating the floods in Comfort, Texas on July 4, 2025. | Source: Getty Images
She expressed her deep gratitude to the airline for stepping in to assist during such a dark hour. Even amid the logistical heartbreak of planning a funeral, the family’s focus remains clear: Finding Mike and Charlene.
“We are beyond devastated and so heartbroken. Prayers are much appreciated and what we needed at this time,” added Jennifer.
While the Harber family’s story has touched hearts across the country, theirs is just one among many tragedies unfolding across central Texas. As of the latest reports, at least 81 people have been confirmed dead and 41 others remain unaccounted for following the flash floods that ravaged the region on Friday, July 4.
The devastation has been particularly concentrated in Kerr County — the same area where the Harbers lost Blair and Brooke — where the floodwaters swallowed homes and entire communities in minutes.
Other affected areas include Travis County, Burnet County, Williamson County, Kendall County, and Tom Green County. One of the hardest-hit locations was Camp Mystic, a cherished Christian summer camp for girls along the banks of the Guadalupe River.
There, rising waters claimed the lives of several children and even the camp’s long-serving director, Richard “Dick” Eastland. The river’s levels surged an astonishing 26 feet in just 45 minutes, catching many campers in their sleep and leaving little time to escape. By Sunday, what was once one of the most vibrant corners of Hill Country had become a disaster zone.
Search-and-rescue teams — including volunteers like former Navy SEAL Greg Froelick — have been tirelessly scouring the region. He told the BBC that victims and their belongings from Camp Mystic, including clothing and dresser items, have been found up to eight miles downriver.
With continued rain and a flood watch in place through Monday evening, the recovery mission is being complicated further by treacherous conditions, including encounters with venomous snakes and submerged debris.
The situation has prompted an outpouring of support from both government officials and everyday Texans. U.S. President Donald Trump signed a major disaster declaration on Sunday, opening the door for federal aid to flow into Kerr County and other affected regions.
After touring the devastation, Texas Governor Greg Abbott promised that authorities would “stop at nothing” to find the missing. “It was nothing short of horrific to see what those young children went through,” he said.
A civilian standing amid the catastrophic damage and debris after the flooding in Kerrville, Texas on July 5, 2025. | Source: Getty Images
Meanwhile, the community has shown the same spirit of resilience that now surrounds the Harber family. In San Antonio, Alma Garcia arrived with home-cooked meals for survivors and volunteers. Similarly, local resident Perla began collecting clothes and shoes after her shift at Walmart and delivered them to a nearby shelter.
Across towns, large and small, strangers have become neighbors — united by grief and a shared determination to help.
The scope of the tragedy has even reached the Vatican. In Rome, Pope Leo XIV offered prayers for the victims and their families during Sunday mass.
At this time, we wish to extend our most heartfelt condolences to R.J., Annie, Jennifer, and the entire Harber family, all their friends, loved ones, the community, and all who knew and loved Blair and Brooke, as they mourn such significant losses. We also extend the same to all the lives impacted by the Texas floods. We hope for their healing amid their grief. RIP, dear Blair, Brooke, and all the victims.
