Latest news with #DebbieFordMarsh
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
Everything we know about Texas flooding victims: Girl ‘living her best life' at camp and man who saved his family
Devastating floods that swept Central Texas over the weekend have killed at least 51 people, including 15 children. Unexpected torrential downpours struck the region on Friday evening, causing the Guadalupe River to rapidly rise and flood the surrounding area. The flooding destroyed homes, swept away vehicles and devastated Camp Mystic, an all-girls summer camp situated on the banks of the river. There are still 27 children missing from the camp as of Saturday afternoon. The identities of the victims are still being determined and released to the public. Here's what we know about the victims so far. Eight-year-old Renee Smajstrla was at Camp Mystic, the all-girls summer camp near the Guadalupe River, her uncle confirmed in a Facebook post. Smajstrla was one of the 27 campers unaccounted for after the devastating floods, Shawn Salta said in the post. 'Renee has been found and while not the outcome we prayed for, the social media outreach likely assisted the first responders in helping to identify her so quickly,' Salta wrote. 'We are thankful she was with her friends and having the time of her life, as evidenced by this picture from yesterday. She will forever be living her best life at Camp Mystic.' Sarah Marsh, an eight-year-old girl from Mountain Brook, Alabama, was killed in the devastating floods while at Camp Mystic. Debbie Ford Marsh, the grandmother of Sarah, confirmed the young girl's death in a now-private Facebook post. 'We will always feel blessed to have had this beautiful spunky ray of light in our lives,' Marsh wrote. 'She will live on in our hearts forever!' Janie Hunt, a nine-year-old Camp Mystic camper, died in the catastrophic flooding, her mother told CNN. Nine-year-old Lila Bonner of Dallas died in the floods while attending Camp Mystic. 'In the midst of our unimaginable grief, we ask for privacy and are unable to confirm any details at this time. We ache with all who loved her,' the Bonner family said in a statement to NBC5. Jane Ragsdale, the director of Heart O' the Hills camp in Kerr County, is among the victims killed in the floods, a close friend confirmed on Facebook. 'Jane was more than the beloved Director of Heart O' the Hills. She was a legend in the camp community shaping generations of campers, staff, and leaders through her unwavering belief in the power of camp to change lives,' Dani Shaw wrote on Facebook. 'She modeled the highest standards of care, character, and connection.' Julian Ryan, 27, died in the floods while saving his family from the rushing water, according to a GoFundMe launched to support his family. 'Julian, his fiancé, kids, and mother were awakened when water came rushing into their home,' the GoFundMe reads. 'Julian jumped into action to protect and save his family and get them to safety.' 'Julian gave his life for his family, passing as a true hero,' the GoFundMe continues. 'While his family is eternally grateful for his sacrifice, they are shattered by their loss.' Katheryn Eads died in the floods, while her husband Brian survived, her family told The Washington Post. She previously worked at Olive Branch Counseling and Training. 'Katheryn was a hope and a light to all who knew her,' the company's owner told the Post. 'A daughter, a wife, a mother, grandmother, friend and colleague. She was a stellar counselor and professor and she simply just made everything better. Katheryn was changing lives.' Two sisters — 13-year-old Blair and 11-year-old Brooke — were killed by the floods in Kerr County, their father told CNN on Saturday night. Harber described Blair as 'a gifted student' who had 'a generous, kind heart.' Harber said that Brooke was 'like a light in any room, people gravitated to her and she made them laugh and enjoy the moment.' The sisters were not attending Camp Mystic, their father added.
Irish Times
6 days ago
- General
- Irish Times
Texas flood victims: What we know
The flash flooding on the Guadalupe river in central Texas has killed at least 43 people, including 15 children. Some two dozen girls from Camp Mystic, an all-girls Christian summer camp, are still missing. Rescuers have been searching the river on Saturday, and the death toll is expected to rise. Here's what we know about those who were killed. Sarah Marsh Sarah Marsh, an 8-year-old student at Cherokee Bend Elementary in Mountain Brook, Alabama, was one of the campers at Camp Mystic in Hunt, Texas. READ MORE In a statement posted online, Stewart Welch, the mayor of Mountain Brook, a suburb of Birmingham, confirmed that Sarah was among those who died in the flood and said that the city was heartbroken. [ Texas floods: Death toll reaches at least 43; dozens still missing Opens in new window ] Buses carrying girls who were at Camp Waldemar unload in downtown Kerrville, Texas to reunite with family. Photograph: Jordan Vonderhaar/The New York Times 'This is an unimaginable loss for her family, her school and our entire community,' he wrote. 'Sarah's passing is a sorrow shared by all of us, and our hearts are with those who knew her and loved her.' In a text message Saturday, Sarah's grandmother, Debbie Ford Marsh, said that Sarah's parents were not able to talk and declined to comment on behalf of the family. Earlier, on Facebook, she posted: 'We will always feel blessed to have had this beautiful spunky ray of light in our lives. She will live on in our hearts forever!' The toppled mailbox for Camp Mystic is surrounded by debris. Photograph: Carter Johnston/The New York Times Janie Hunt Janie Hunt (9), of Dallas, died in the flash flooding, her grandmother Margaret Hunt said in an interview. Janie was also attending Camp Mystic. It was her first time there as a camper, and she attended along with six of her cousins, who were safe, Hunt said. Hunt said she was in Vermont when she got a call from her daughter, Anne Lindsay Hunt, telling her about the flooding. Janie's parents drove to Ingram Elementary, the reunification centre, where they were told to visit a funeral home and identify their daughter. Janie was the eldest of three children. Debris, including a canoe, wrapped around a tree by floodwaters on the road to Camp Mystic in Texas. Photograph: Carter Johnston/The New York Times Bobby and Amanda Martin Bobby Martin (46) and his wife, Amanda (44) were among those killed, Bobby Martin's father, John Keith Martin, told the New York Times. The couple, from Odessa, Texas, were reportedly camping by the Guadalupe river when their RV was swept away by rising floodwaters. The elder Martin said one of his grandchildren and that grandchild's girlfriend were with the couple and were still missing. 'He was an adventurous man, adventurous and outgoing. He had many good friends, because he was a good friend,' John Keith Martin said of his son. 'He's just incredible.' Debris left by the flooded Guadalupe river. Photograph: Carter Johnston/The New York Times Jane Ragsdale Jane Ragsdale, director and co-owner of the Heart O' the Hills summer camp in Kerr County, is among those confirmed dead in the flooding, said a statement posted to the camp's website. No campers were residing at the site when the floods hit. 'We at the camp are stunned and deeply saddened by Jane's death,' the statement said. 'She embodied the spirit of Heart O' the Hills and was exactly the type of strong, joyful woman that the camp aimed to develop with the girls entrusted to us each summer.' Ragsdale, who became camp director in 1988, started as a camper and later became a counsellor. – This article originally appeared in The New York Times . Local residents survey the wreckage left by the flooded Guadalupe river. Photograph: Jordan Vonderhaar/The New York Times Debris left by the flooded Guadalupe river. Photograph: Carter Johnston/The New York Times The flooded Guadalupe river in Kerrville, Texas. Photograph: Carter Johnston/The New York Times 2025 The New York Times Company
The Independent
7 days ago
- General
- The Independent
Everything we know about Texas flooding victims: Girl ‘living her best life' at camp and man who saved his family
Devastating floods that swept Central Texas over the weekend have killed at least 51 people, including 15 children. Unexpected torrential downpours struck the region on Friday evening, causing the Guadalupe River to rapidly rise and flood the surrounding area. The flooding destroyed homes, swept away vehicles and devastated Camp Mystic, an all-girls summer camp situated on the banks of the river. There are still 27 children missing from the camp as of Saturday afternoon. The identities of the victims are still being determined and released to the public. Here's what we know about the victims so far. Renee Smajstrla Eight-year-old Renee Smajstrla was at Camp Mystic, the all-girls summer camp near the Guadalupe River, her uncle confirmed in a Facebook post. Smajstrla was one of the 27 campers unaccounted for after the devastating floods, Shawn Salta said in the post. 'Renee has been found and while not the outcome we prayed for, the social media outreach likely assisted the first responders in helping to identify her so quickly,' Salta wrote. 'We are thankful she was with her friends and having the time of her life, as evidenced by this picture from yesterday. She will forever be living her best life at Camp Mystic.' Sarah Marsh Sarah Marsh, an eight-year-old girl from Mountain Brook, Alabama, was killed in the devastating floods while at Camp Mystic. Debbie Ford Marsh, the grandmother of Sarah, confirmed the young girl's death in a now-private Facebook post. 'We will always feel blessed to have had this beautiful spunky ray of light in our lives,' Marsh wrote. 'She will live on in our hearts forever!' Janie Hunt Janie Hunt, a nine-year-old Camp Mystic camper, died in the catastrophic flooding, her mother told CNN. Lila Bonner Nine-year-old Lila Bonner of Dallas died in the floods while attending Camp Mystic. 'In the midst of our unimaginable grief, we ask for privacy and are unable to confirm any details at this time. We ache with all who loved her,' the Bonner family said in a statement to NBC5. Jane Ragsdale Jane Ragsdale, the director of Heart O' the Hills camp in Kerr County, is among the victims killed in the floods, a close friend confirmed on Facebook. 'Jane was more than the beloved Director of Heart O' the Hills. She was a legend in the camp community shaping generations of campers, staff, and leaders through her unwavering belief in the power of camp to change lives,' Dani Shaw wrote on Facebook. 'She modeled the highest standards of care, character, and connection.' Julian Ryan Julian Ryan, 27, died in the floods while saving his family from the rushing water, according to a GoFundMe launched to support his family. 'Julian, his fiancé, kids, and mother were awakened when water came rushing into their home,' the GoFundMe reads. 'Julian jumped into action to protect and save his family and get them to safety.' 'Julian gave his life for his family, passing as a true hero,' the GoFundMe continues. 'While his family is eternally grateful for his sacrifice, they are shattered by their loss.' Katheryn Eads Katheryn Eads died in the floods, while her husband Brian survived, her family told The Washington Post. She previously worked at Olive Branch Counseling and Training. 'Katheryn was a hope and a light to all who knew her,' the company's owner told the Post. 'A daughter, a wife, a mother, grandmother, friend and colleague. She was a stellar counselor and professor and she simply just made everything better. Katheryn was changing lives.' Blair and Brooke Harber Two sisters — 13-year-old Blair and 11-year-old Brooke — were killed by the floods in Kerr County, their father told CNN on Saturday night. Harber described Blair as 'a gifted student' who had 'a generous, kind heart.' Harber said that Brooke was 'like a light in any room, people gravitated to her and she made them laugh and enjoy the moment.' The sisters were not attending Camp Mystic, their father added.
The Independent
7 days ago
- General
- The Independent
Girl ‘living her best life' at camp and man who saved his family. Everything we know about Texas flooding victims
Devastating floods that swept Central Texas over the weekend have killed at least 51 people, including 15 children. Unexpected torrential downpours struck the region on Friday evening, causing the Guadalupe River to rapidly rise and flood the surrounding area. The flooding destroyed homes, swept away vehicles and devastated Camp Mystic, an all-girls summer camp situated on the banks of the river. There are still 27 children missing from the camp as of Saturday afternoon. The identities of the victims are still being determined and released to the public. Here's what we know about the victims so far. Renee Smajstrla Eight-year-old Renee Smajstrla was at Camp Mystic, the all-girls summer camp near the Guadalupe River, her uncle confirmed in a Facebook post. Smajstrla was one of the 27 campers unaccounted for after the devastating floods, Shawn Salta said in the post. 'Renee has been found and while not the outcome we prayed for, the social media outreach likely assisted the first responders in helping to identify her so quickly,' Salta wrote. 'We are thankful she was with her friends and having the time of her life, as evidenced by this picture from yesterday. She will forever be living her best life at Camp Mystic.' Sarah Marsh Sarah Marsh, an eight-year-old girl from Mountain Brook, Alabama, was killed in the devastating floods while at Camp Mystic. Debbie Ford Marsh, the grandmother of Sarah, confirmed the young girl's death in a now-private Facebook post. 'We will always feel blessed to have had this beautiful spunky ray of light in our lives,' Marsh wrote. 'She will live on in our hearts forever!' Janie Hunt Janie Hunt, a nine-year-old Camp Mystic camper, died in the catastrophic flooding, her mother told CNN. Lila Bonner Nine-year-old Lila Bonner of Dallas died in the floods while attending Camp Mystic. 'In the midst of our unimaginable grief, we ask for privacy and are unable to confirm any details at this time. We ache with all who loved her,' the Bonner family said in a statement to NBC5. Jane Ragsdale Jane Ragsdale, the director of Heart O' the Hills camp in Kerr County, is among the victims killed in the floods, a close friend confirmed on Facebook. 'Jane was more than the beloved Director of Heart O' the Hills. She was a legend in the camp community shaping generations of campers, staff, and leaders through her unwavering belief in the power of camp to change lives,' Dani Shaw wrote on Facebook. 'She modeled the highest standards of care, character, and connection.' Julian Ryan Julian Ryan, 27, died in the floods while saving his family from the rushing water, according to a GoFundMe launched to support his family. 'Julian, his fiancé, kids, and mother were awakened when water came rushing into their home,' the GoFundMe reads. 'Julian jumped into action to protect and save his family and get them to safety.' 'Julian gave his life for his family, passing as a true hero,' the GoFundMe continues. 'While his family is eternally grateful for his sacrifice, they are shattered by their loss.' Katheryn Eads She previously worked at Olive Branch Counseling and Training. 'Katheryn was a hope and a light to all who knew her,' the company's owner told the Post. 'A daughter, a wife, a mother, grandmother, friend and colleague. She was a stellar counselor and professor and she simply just made everything better. Katheryn was changing lives.'
