The aunt of the two girls who perished in the Texas flash floods has been talking about the discovery of their remains.
Over the July 4th weekend outside the Texan town of Kerrville, a month’s worth of intense rain poured in a few hours, causing the Guadalupe River to rise to a hazardous 26 feet. As a result, numerous counties declared a state of emergency.
Americans celebrating Independence Day were using vacation cabins, cars, and mobile homes, all of which were washed away by the floods. Since then, officials have acknowledged that over 100 people have died as a result of the floods, and an undetermined number of others are still unaccounted for.
The floodwaters rocked a neighbouring town as 11- and 13-year-old Brooke and Blair Harber were staying with their grandparents along the river. The aunt of the girls, Jennifer Harber, has now shared further devastating details regarding the girls’ discovery.
“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,” Jennifer posted to GoFundMe.
“My parents Mike and Charlene Harber have not been found as of now. Prayers are needed so we can bring them home.”
Their grandparents are still missing, and Brooke and Blair were subsequently discovered dead 15 miles away.
“When they were found, their hands were locked together,” Harber explained on the GoFundMe page.
Reports from KTVT and KXAS-TV St. Rita Catholic School in Dallas, where Brooke and Blair attended, said in a statement: “Even in their last moments, they held tightly to each other, a powerful symbol of their lasting bond and their trust in God.”
The school added: “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.”
When it became clear that the floodwaters were seriously damaging, the kids’ parents, RJ and Annie, reportedly left at around 3:30 am to see how the girls and their grandparents, Mike and Charlene, were doing.
Sadly, Harber disclosed, the water level was too high to get to the four’s lodging.
‘Support the Harber family following devastating loss’ is the goal of the GoFundMe that Jennifer Harber created. Donations can be made here.
