Tragedies Occurring in Texas Some Details Regarding the Victims: From Youthful Camper to Parent Rescuing Family, Overview of the Lives Taken
In the aftermath of the devastating Texas flash floods, the community is coming together to remember and honour the lives lost. Among the victims were several children, campers, and counsellors from various camps, including Camp Mystic and Heart O' the Hills Camp for Girls.
Blair and Brooke Harber, 11 and 13-year-old sisters from Dallas, were staying with their grandparents at a cabin near the Guadalupe River in Kerr County when the flood struck. Tragically, they were swept away overnight and found about 15 miles downstream, their hands locked together, a poignant symbol of their bond in the tragedy. Their grandparents remain missing.
Linnie McCown, an 8-year-old camper from Camp Mystic, was a bright, joyful child, according to her father. She was one of the many victims from this all-girls Christian camp near Kerrville, where a significant number of fatalities occurred. Approximately 27 campers and counsellors lost their lives, highlighting the scale of the disaster among children.
Hanna Lawrence and Rebecca Lawrence, 8-year-old twin sisters from Dallas, were also among the victims at Camp Mystic. Virginia Wynne Naylor, another camper at the same camp, was remembered for her great love of the outdoors, her love of God, and her love for her community.
Brooke Harber, a rising sixth grader, was an accomplished athlete, excelling in soccer, basketball, volleyball, and lacrosse. She also had a particular gift for improv, bringing smiles and laughter to those around her. Her love for speech and drama was evident in her involvement in yearbook, speech and drama, volleyball, basketball, lacrosse, and cheerleading.
Chloe Childress, a counselor at Camp Mystic and a graduate of The Kinkaid School, was also among the victims. She was remembered for her remarkable ability to make people feel seen and her steady compassion that settled a room.
Bailey Martin, an Odessa police officer, died during a trip with his family. Julian Ryan, 27, lost his life trying to help his family escape their trailer home during the floods.
Jane Ragsdale, the director of the Heart O' the Hills Camp for Girls, was another victim of the floods. The camp described her as embodying the spirit of the camp and being exactly the type of strong, joyful woman that the camp aimed to develop with the girls entrusted to them each summer.
Sarah Marsh, 8, was a camper at Camp Mystic from Mountain Brook, Alabama. Tanya Burwick went missing while driving in the floodwaters and her body was later recovered several blocks away from her car. Mary Grace Baker, an 8-year-old camper at Camp Mystic, was a "bright light" who loved dance, art, and Little League.
Anna Margaret Bellows, 8, was a camper at Camp Mystic and was among the victims of the Texas flash floods. Joyce Catherine Badon, a senior architecture student at the Savannah College of Art and Design, also lost her life in the floodwaters.
The flood was catastrophic, with at least 109 confirmed deaths, including over 30 children, mostly along the Guadalupe River in Kerr County, and dozens more still missing. Recovery and identification efforts are ongoing, and more information about other victims may emerge as the situation develops.
Our thoughts are with the families and friends of those who lost their lives during this tragic event. May they find comfort in the memories of their loved ones and the support of their community during this difficult time.
- Despite the unfortunate incident of the Texas flash floods, the community is working to remember and honor the victims, such as Linnie McCown, an 8-year-old girl from Camp Mystic, who was known for her bright and joyful nature.
- General news reported car-accidents, fires, and weather-related tragedies, including the floods, which resulted in accidents, including the loss of Brooke Harber, a rising sixth grader and an accomplished athlete.
- The education sector is also affected, with the tragic loss of Chloe Childress, a counselor at Camp Mystic and a graduate of The Kinkaid School, who was remembered for her remarkable ability to make people feel seen and her steady compassion.
