The devastating floods that raged through central Texas during the July 4 holiday weekend have taken at least 82 lives, sending countless families into mourning. They included sisters Blair Herber, 13, and Brooke Herber, 11, whose bodies were discovered dead, still clasping each other’s hands. Their grandparents are still missing in the meantime.
Spurred by the sudden flooding of the Guadalupe River, the deluge destroyed families and vacation campers all over the Hill Country area. Dallas residents Blair and Brooke were enjoying a family camping excursion along the river and living in a cabin inside the gated Casa Bonita subdivision of Hunt when the floodwaters hit. The sisters were carried away by the water, although their parents lived, reported the Associated Press.
Sadly, the bodies of the girls were found approximately 15 miles from their last known location. Their aunt subsequently explained that the sisters’ hands were ‘locked together’.
The Final Message
Early Friday, at about 3:30 a.m., the girls’ parents, RJ and Annie Herber, were awoken by rising floodwaters. They subsequently discovered a tragic text from Brooke that merely said, “I love you.” The same message was also delivered to the sisters’ maternal grandparents, Mike and Charlene Herber, who remain missing, a GoFundMe page started by their aunt Jennifer reports.
Frantic Rescue Efforts
The parents attempted to get in touch with their daughters but could not travel to the cabin because of the incessant rain and floodwaters. Borrowing a kayak from neighboring property owners, they attempted to kayak towards the cabin but were swept by the current and later had to be rescued together with five others. Blair and Brooke’s bodies were found 12 hours later, adding to the family’s tragedy.
A Grieving Community
Blair and Brooke went to school at St. Rita Catholic School in Dallas. While the community tries to come to terms with the tragedy, rescue efforts are ongoing to find survivors and the missing, though the full scope of the disaster is still unknown.
Emergency disaster declarations have already been issued by both President Donald Trump and Texas Governor Greg Abbott in an effort to speed assistance to the area. Trump also expressed intentions to travel to the flood-stricken areas this Friday.
Throughout Texas, households are left to grieve the loss of loved ones, as volunteers and officials continue their rescue and recovery missions.
