Texas Flood Victims Include Children, Camp Leader, Grandparent/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The Texas floods have claimed at least 82 lives, leaving communities grieving cherished victims like a beloved camp director, a young Alabama student, and a devoted grandmother. Search efforts continue for missing children from a summer camp along the Guadalupe River. Emotional tributes reflect the personal toll behind this devastating natural disaster.
Quick Look
- Death Toll: At least 82 confirmed fatalities
- Victims Identified: Camp director, children, grandparents among the dead
- Search Ongoing: 11 children still missing from summer camp
- Disaster Zone: Guadalupe River region worst affected
- Community Mourning: Tributes pour in for victims across Texas and beyond
A Young Student, Beloved Camp Director Among Victims of Texas Floods
KERRVILLE, Texas (AP) — The faces of Texas’ deadly floods include a spirited young girl from Alabama, a cherished camp director, and a small-town grandmother — just a few of the at least 82 lives claimed by the devastating disaster that swept through central Texas on Friday.
Fast-rising waters along the Guadalupe River unleashed destruction, submerging homes, washing away vehicles, and leaving families searching for loved ones. As of Sunday, search and rescue operations continued, with 11 children from a girls’ summer camp still unaccounted for.
Tanya Burwick: A Grandmother Lost
Tanya Burwick, 62, was last heard from in a panicked phone call early Friday as she drove to work at a Walmart near San Angelo. When she didn’t arrive, colleagues filed a missing person report.
Later that day, police found her SUV submerged. Her body was recovered nearby the next morning.
“She lit up the room and had a laugh that made other people laugh,” said her daughter, Lindsey Burwick. The tragedy fell on July Fourth — an especially difficult day for the Burwick family, who run a generations-old fireworks stand in tiny Blackwell, Texas.
As news spread, locals gathered at the stand, painted bright orange, to offer support. “People came to our aid,” Lindsey said.
San Angelo police reported more than 12,000 structures damaged in the flooding. They urged the community to keep the Burwicks in their prayers.
Jane Ragsdale: The Heart of a Camp
Jane Ragsdale, 68, dedicated her life to the Heart O’ the Hills Camp, a storied girls’ camp nestled in the Texas Hill Country. She had once been a camper and counselor before becoming director in the 1980s.
“She was the heart of The Heart,” the camp said in a tribute. “She made every person feel seen, loved, and important.”
Though no campers were staying at Heart O’ the Hills during the flood, the camp suffered severe damage. Videos shared online show Ragsdale strumming a guitar and singing to campers, embodying the warmth and spirit for which she was beloved.
In a 2015 oral history, Ragsdale reflected on her lifelong passion for camp life: “I loved every minute of camp from the first time I stepped foot in one.”
Sarah Marsh: A Young Life Cut Short
Eight-year-old Sarah Marsh from Alabama was among the victims at Camp Mystic, another girls’ camp in Hunt, Texas. As of Sunday, 11 children remained missing.
Sarah was a student at Cherokee Bend Elementary in suburban Birmingham, known for her joyful spirit. “This is an unimaginable loss for her family, her school, and our entire community,” said Mountain Brook Mayor Stewart Welch.
Her grandmother, Debbie Ford Marsh, described her granddaughter as “a beautiful, spunky ray of light.” The family is mourning privately.
U.S. Sen. Katie Britt of Alabama also paid tribute, offering prayers for Sarah’s family and all victims of the Texas floods.
Blair and Brooke Harber: Sisters Remembered
Sisters Blair and Brooke Harber from Dallas were staying near the Guadalupe River when floodwaters swept away their cabin. Their parents, Annie and RJ Harber, who were in a separate cabin, survived, but the girls’ grandparents remain missing.
Blair, involved in advanced academics and multiple school activities, and Brooke, a rising sixth grader and student-athlete, were both students at St. Rita Catholic School in Dallas. Their mother, Annie Harber, is a long-serving teacher at the school.
“This tragedy has touched every corner of our hearts,” St. Rita Catholic Community said in a statement.
Pastor Joshua Whitfield urged prayers for the family, describing Blair and Brooke as children who brought joy and light to all who knew them.
A special prayer service was held, and the church continues to offer support and counseling for those affected.
Devastation and Search Efforts Continue
The Texas flooding, fueled by torrential rains that rapidly swelled the Guadalupe River, caught many by surprise despite weather warnings. Governor Greg Abbott has warned of further rainfall that could prolong the danger.
Search efforts continue across the region, with more than 850 rescues reported in the initial days. President Donald Trump has declared a federal disaster, promising aid and indicating he may visit Texas soon.
As communities mourn and search for the missing, stories like those of Tanya, Jane, Sarah, and the Harber sisters shine as reminders of lives full of love, laughter, and promise, lost too soon.
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