logo
Sisters killed in Texas floods found with ‘their hands locked together' while grandparents remain missing

Sisters killed in Texas floods found with ‘their hands locked together' while grandparents remain missing

New York Post7 days ago
Two sisters killed in the devastating Texas Hill Country floods were found with 'their hands locked together,' grieving family members said as they continue to search for the girls' missing grandparents.
Blair and Brooke Harber, ages 13 and 11, died while on a family trip in Casa Bonita, a gated community in the town of Hunt that was struck by the devastating deluge early Friday.
4 Blair, 13, and Brooke, 11 Harber were found dead with 'their hands locked together.'
Facebook
The rushing water woke up the girls' father, RJ Harber, around 3:30 a.m., his sister Jennifer told KLOU, and the rain was pounding so hard outside that it was nearly impossible to hear the water pouring through their cabin door.
Around the same time, Brooke texted RJ and her maternal grandparents 'I love you,' Jennifer wrote on a GoFundMe for the family.
RJ and his wife Annie shattered a window and clambered outside in a desperate bid to reach their daughters, who were staying in a separate cabin.
But the raging waters prevented them from reaching the other home. In a last-ditch effort, Annie and RJ hurried to another neighbor's house and woke the family up to borrow their kayak and paddle through the flood.
The waters, however, were too rough, and the parents wound up being rescued alongside five surviving neighbors, Jennifer wrote.
When the sisters were found 12 hours later and 15 miles away, 'their hands were locked together,' Jennifer told KLOU.
Blair and Brooke attended St. Rita's Catholic School in Dallas, Texas where their mother Annie Harber works as an instructional specialist.
The siblings were 'believers,' Jennifer said, and had taken their rosary beads with them on the trip.
'[Blair] was a gifted student and had a generous kind heart. [Brooke] was like a light in any room, people gravitated to her and she made them laugh and enjoy the moment,' RJ told CNN.
4 The girls both attended St. Rita's Catholic School in Dallas, where their mother teaches.
GoFundMe
Their grandparents, Mike and Charlene Harber, are still unaccounted for.
The Harber family had been staying in two separate cabins. Mike and Charlene's neighbors, who were out of town, offered up their home for them to stay in with the girls since it was more spacious than the couple's one-bedroom home.
4 RJ and Annie Harber tried to paddle over in a kayak to save their daughters.
Facebook
4 Their paternal grandparents, Charlene and Mike Harber, are still missing.
GoFundMe
At least 80 people have died in the catastrophic flood and more than 40 are still missing. Evacuation orders are still in place as the Hill Country area anticipates more rain.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

USA TODAY reveals readers' favorite type of fry condiments for National French Fry Day
USA TODAY reveals readers' favorite type of fry condiments for National French Fry Day

Indianapolis Star

timea day ago

  • Indianapolis Star

USA TODAY reveals readers' favorite type of fry condiments for National French Fry Day

Friday is National French Friday Day, and when it comes to what we're dipping those deep-fried potatoes in, USA TODAY readers are overwhelmingly in support of ketchup. In an Instagram and Facebook poll shared on Friday morning, 59% of USA TODAY followers voted ketchup as their favorite condiment for dipping French fries. As of 2:45 p.m. ET on July 11, 663 followers had taken the poll, with 59% in favor of ketchup. Surprisingly, "other" came in second at 15%, and ranch and mayo tied for third at 13%. USA TODAY readers aren't outliers. A survey published by Talker Research in New York last month found that 81% of Americans deem ketchup as the best condiment for fries. And not only that, but 78% of participants said dipping sauce can make or break a meal and 73% of Americans eat their French fries with a condiment. National French Fry Day 2025: Get free fries and deals at McDonald's, Burger King, more Interested in weighing in? Visit USA TODAY's Instagram or Facebook account to take the poll on each platform's Story (accessible by clicking or touching the USA TODAY profile photo). Meta Story polls only allow up to four options, and voters could not indicate their specific preferences if they answered "other." National French Fry Day, a made-up holiday, is celebrated every second Friday of July, according to the National Day Calendar. For the "holiday," countless restaurant chains offer free fries or promotional deals to customers.

He Was Out of Time at the Shelter—Then a Family Showed Up
He Was Out of Time at the Shelter—Then a Family Showed Up

Newsweek

time2 days ago

  • Newsweek

He Was Out of Time at the Shelter—Then a Family Showed Up

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. For Scotty, a young puppy facing a grim fate, time was running out. He was on the euthanasia list at a kill shelter in southern Illinois due to overcrowding until the Iroquois County Animal Rescue (ICARe) stepped in at the eleventh hour. Volunteers there pulled him and his sister from the brink and set them on a path to a forever home. In a Facebook post, ICARe recounted the success story. Margaret Fox, 51, president of ICARe, told Newsweek about the sense of responsibility she felt in rescuing the pup, named Scotty, from his near-fate. Stock image: A boy hugs a black-and-white dog outside. Stock image: A boy hugs a black-and-white dog outside. romrodinka/Getty Images "Scotty was adopted today!" ICARe wrote in a Facebook post. "He was on the euthanasia list at a kill shelter, so we grabbed him up at the last minute and it didn't take long for him to find a wonderful family!" Fox recounted the urgent situation that led to Scotty's rescue. "On June 18, I received an urgent email from … the transport coordinator for all of the Animal Control facilities in southern Illinois," she said. The email stated that Scotty, his sister Tabby and two other littermates "had a date scheduled for euthanasia—and they most definitely would be killed for space if a rescue did not commit to pull them that day." Despite her own shelter being full, Fox's immediate response was unequivocal. "I immediately agreed to take all four puppies, even though our shelter was full at the time," Fox said. "I could not let these babies be killed and felt an immediate sense of responsibility for their lives." Fortunately, another shelter also committed to saving some of the litter. So, the litter was split between the two rescues—and ICARe got Scotty and his sister, Tabby—who has now been renamed as Mocha. The puppies' journey to a new life began with the dedication of volunteers. "The pups went directly from transport to one of our amazing volunteer foster families," Fox said. "They have fostered countless dogs and puppies for us and were gracious enough to take these pups into their home at the last minute." Once settled with their foster family, the crucial next steps for their health and well-being commenced. A vet exam was scheduled, along with spaying and neutering, vaccinations and deworming. Remarkably, just two days after the comprehensive veterinary care, Scotty found his forever home. "Just two days later, Scotty was adopted by a PetSmart employee," Fox said, "and we were informed that the [foster family's] adult daughter Delaney was interested in adopting his sister." The news brought immense relief to the rescue team. "We were overjoyed at this news and that both pups were able to be in their forever home so soon after rescue," Fox said. Scotty and his siblings' ordeal began tragically. Their original intake paperwork said that the puppies were taken into care in May after being dumped outside the ICARe building. "How extremely sad it is to think of these babies being discarded like trash," Fox said. This heartwarming story underscores the critical role of animal rescues and foster families in saving vulnerable lives. For animals facing euthanasia due to overcrowding, a last-minute rescue is their only hope—and Fox said she was proud to play a part. "I am very thankful to be able to have played a small part in their rescue journey to a happily ever after," she added.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store