Tragic Loss as Sisters Perish in Texas Floods

Two young sisters, Blair and Brooke Harber, aged 13 and 11, were discovered drowned in the recent severe flooding in Texas Hill Country, their hands still clasped together. The girls, students at St. Rita’s Catholic School in Dallas, went missing during a family trip to Casa Bonita, a gated community in Hunt caught in the flood early Friday morning.

Their grieving family recounts that the floodwaters awakened their father, RJ Harber, around 3:30 a.m., with rain pummeling so fiercely that it was nearly impossible to hear the rushing water. Around that time, Brooke managed to send a heartfelt text to her father and grandparents, expressing love. Desperate to save their daughters, RJ and his wife Annie broke a window and attempted to reach the sisters in their nearby cabin but were thwarted by the swift currents.

In a last effort, Annie and RJ borrowed a neighbor’s kayak, paddling through the treacherous floodwaters, but the conditions were too dangerous. They were eventually rescued along with five neighbors. The search for their grandparents, Mike and Charlene Harber, continues, as they remain missing amid the chaos.

The sisters were known for their bright personalities and devout beliefs, carrying rosary beads during the trip. They were loved by many and remembered for their kindness—Blair as a gifted student with a generous heart, and Brooke as a lively presence who brought joy to those around her.

The flood has claimed at least 80 lives, with more than 40 still unaccounted for. Authorities continue to issue evacuation orders as ongoing rain threatens the devastated region.