Blair and Brooke Harber Among Youngest Victims of Catastrophic Hill Country Floods
Hunt, Texas – In a heart-wrenching turn of events from the catastrophic Texas floods, two young sisters, Blair and Brooke Harber, were found dead with their hands locked together, family members revealed. The 13- and 11-year-old girls were swept away by floodwaters early Friday while vacationing with their family in Casa Bonita, a gated community in the town of Hunt.
“I Love You”: Final Text Before the Flood
The girls’ father, RJ Harber, awoke around 3:30 a.m. to the sound of rain pounding on the roof—but it was the floodwaters silently entering the cabin that caught him off guard. According to his sister, Jennifer, the girls had been staying in a separate cabin nearby.
At around the same time, Brooke sent a final message to her father and maternal grandparents:
“I love you.”
That would be the last message before the girls went missing in the deluge.
Desperate Rescue Attempt
RJ and his wife, Annie Harber, shattered a cabin window and climbed out in a frantic attempt to reach their daughters. But the violent current made it impossible. In a final bid to save them, the couple raced to a neighbor’s home to borrow a kayak, hoping to paddle across the flooded terrain.
The effort was in vain. The waters were too strong. The couple and five nearby neighbors had to be rescued by emergency teams.
A Tragic Discovery
Twelve hours later and 15 miles downstream, the sisters’ bodies were found, still holding each other’s hands.
“They were believers,” said their aunt Jennifer. “They brought their rosary beads with them on the trip.”
Blair and Brooke both attended St. Rita’s Catholic School in Dallas, where their mother is an instructional specialist. “Blair was a gifted student with a generous, kind heart,” said RJ. “Brooke was a light in every room—people gravitated to her.”
Grandparents Still Missing
The girls had been staying with their paternal grandparents, Mike and Charlene Harber, who remain unaccounted for. The couple had been offered a larger vacation home by neighbors while the rest of the family stayed nearby in a separate cabin.
Search teams are continuing efforts to locate the Harber grandparents as rainfall continues to threaten the already-devastated area.
Devastating Toll of the Texas Hill Country Floods
As of now, at least 80 people have died, and more than 40 others remain missing following the record-breaking flood that swept through Central Texas late last week. Among the victims are children, summer campers, and elderly residents. Evacuation orders remain in place, with meteorologists warning of additional rainfall in the coming days.
A Community in Mourning
The tragic story of Blair and Brooke has become a poignant symbol of the devastation and heartbreak inflicted by the flooding. The family’s GoFundMe campaign has drawn national attention, with supporters offering prayers and financial assistance.
As the Hill Country community mourns and rescue operations continue, the Harber family’s loss stands as a reminder of the human cost behind the natural disaster.
