In a time of unimaginable grief, a North Texas family is mourning the loss of two young sisters, Blair and Brooke Harber, who tragically lost their lives in the Hill Country flooding. The girls, aged 13 and 11, were swept away by the devastating waters on July 4, 2025. Their grandparents, Mike and Charlene Harber, remain missing. The discovery of the sisters’ bodies 15 miles from where they disappeared came nearly 12 hours after the floods began. When found, the girls’ hands were locked together, a silent symbol of the bond they shared.
According to their aunt, Jennifer Harber, the storm hit around 3:30 a.m., waking their father, R.J. Harber. He and his wife, Annie, quickly realized the cabin was flooding. Their daughters had been staying in a nearby home with their grandparents. In desperation, R.J. and Annie shattered a window to escape, hoping to reach their daughters and parents. But the floodwaters were already too high and moving too swiftly.
They woke up nearby neighbors, likely saving those lives in the process, and borrowed a kayak in an effort to reach their girls. But the current was too strong, and R.J. and Annie were ultimately rescued along with five neighbors. As they grieve, they continue to pray for the safe return of Mike and Charlene.
Jennifer issued a public plea, begging for help to bring her parents home. In the meantime, friends and community members have rallied around the Harbers, launching a GoFundMe campaign that has already raised more than $169,000 of its $200,000 goal. The fundraiser includes photos of the family — three generations smiling in matching pajamas, the girls posing in sundresses beside their grandparents — underscoring the closeness they shared.
Jennifer also shared more context from the night of the storm. The girls had been tucked into bed at 11 p.m. in a neighbor’s larger riverfront home. Blair slept in the loft above, while her grandparents stayed in the guest room below. The Harbers’ own home was too small to accommodate everyone. When the storm hit, the rain was so intense it masked the sound of floodwaters rising.
Jennifer recalled the chaos: pitch darkness, blaring alerts, and freezing waters up to Annie’s chin. The family’s Labrador somehow made it across the flooded highway to safety, but their second dog did not survive. Of the 20 homes in the gated community of Casa Bonita, only a handful remained standing by daylight.
Adding to the heartbreak, Brooke had sent a text message to her father and maternal grandparents at 3:30 a.m. — “I love you.” Both girls were deeply spiritual and brought their rosaries on the trip. Just two weeks before, Blair had talked to Jennifer about heaven.
Jennifer explained that Annie was eventually rescued by helicopter, while R.J. tried another route to get help. Plans are now underway for a joint funeral service for Blair and Brooke at St. Rita Catholic Church in Dallas. Their bodies will be transported home via Southwest Airlines, where Jennifer works as a flight attendant. She expressed gratitude to the airline for their support during this devastating time.
As they mourn, the Harbers continue to hope for the recovery of Mike and Charlene. Jennifer thanked the public for their prayers and emphasized how much they are needed right now.
Their story is one of many emerging from the flood-ravaged region. As of the latest updates, at least 81 people have been confirmed dead, and 41 remain missing. The floods have hit Kerr County especially hard — the same area where the Harbers lost Blair and Brooke. The Guadalupe River rose more than 26 feet in under an hour, overwhelming entire communities.
Among the hardest-hit locations was Camp Mystic, a well-loved Christian summer camp for girls. Rising waters there claimed the lives of multiple children and the camp’s longtime director. Recovery crews have found personal belongings from campers as far as eight miles downstream. The ongoing rescue efforts are complicated by venomous snakes, debris, and continued rainfall.
Federal and state leaders have responded to the crisis. President Donald Trump signed a disaster declaration, and Governor Greg Abbott vowed to leave no stone unturned in the search for the missing. Volunteers, including retired Navy SEALs, are joining the effort.
Texans have shown resilience and compassion. In San Antonio, Alma Garcia delivered meals to survivors. After her Walmart shift, Perla gathered clothing and shoes for a local shelter. Across the region, strangers are becoming family.
The tragedy has even reached Rome, where Pope Leo XIV offered prayers during Sunday mass.
As the Harber family and so many others navigate this sorrow, we extend our deepest condolences. To R.J., Annie, Jennifer, and everyone who knew and loved Blair and Brooke — and to all who have suffered in these floods — we stand with you in grief and in hope. May your loved ones rest in peace, and may healing find you in time.
