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USA Today
6 days ago
- General
- USA Today
Twin sisters. Woman who 'shaped generations of campers': Texas flood victims remembered
Camp directors. Sisters. Teachers. Grandparents. More than 80 people died in flooding in central Texas. Here are stories of those who lost their lives. A director of a Texas summer camp for girls who was known as the "heart and soul" of the program. Two sisters found together after being swept away by floodwaters. A beloved teacher from the Houston metropolitan area. Destructive flooding triggered by unrelenting rain that rapidly overwhelmed the Guadalupe River has killed at least 81 people across central Texas. State and local officials said search and rescue efforts were still underway, including for 10 children and a counselor from Camp Mystic, a Christian girls' camp at the edge of the Guadalupe River. At least 27 children and counselors from the all-girls summer camp, which has long had ties to top Texas political figures, have died. The river surged over 26 feet in less than an hour on July 4, carrying away cars, RVs and structures. It blew out the wall of one camp building where children slept, leaving debris-covered mud amid pink blankets and stuffed animals. Flooding-related deaths have been reported in six counties. The victims include summer camp directors, teachers, grandparents, parents, and children. Here are the stories of those who lost their lives: Jane Rasgdale Jane Ragsdale was the "heart and soul" of Heart O' the Hills, a summer camp for girls in Kerr County, according to the program's website. She was a camper and a counselor there before becoming a co-owner of the camp in 1976. Ragsdale later served as the camp's program director from 1978 to 1987, and went on to become the camp director in 1988, the website added. In a statement, the camp said it was "right in the path of the flood" and its facilities sustained serious damage. They noted that since the camp was between sessions when the flooding occurred, no children had been staying there. "However, our Director and the camp's longtime co-owner, Jane Ragsdale, lost her life. We at the camp are stunned and deeply saddened by Jane's death," the camp said in the statement. "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." The camp also paid tribute to Ragsdale in a Facebook post, saying she was "the heart of The Heart." "Jane wasn't just our director, she was our guiding light, our example, and our safe place. She had the rare gift of making every person feel seen, loved, and important. Her kindness, strength, and wisdom shaped generations of campers and staff," the post states. "Her legacy lives in every laugh heard on the hill, every tradition passed down, every song we sing, every manner she taught us and every life she touched, which is too many to count," the post continued. − Thao Nguyen Blair and Brooke Harber Two young sisters, Blair and Brooke Harber, were staying in Hill Country over the Fourth of July holiday when their "lives were tragically cut short" by flooding along the Guadalupe River, according to St. Rita Catholic School. The school said in a statement on Facebook that Blair was a rising eighth grader, while Brooke was entering the sixth grade. The school described Blair as an "outstanding student" who was enrolled in advanced classes and actively involved in school activities. She played several sports, cheered for the school's cheerleading team, served as a student ambassador, and was part of the yearbook team and speech and drama program. Brooke was an "excellent student who brought joy and energy wherever she went," according to the school. She also played several sports, and loved speech and drama, in which she had a gift for improv, the school noted. "Blair had the kindest heart and loved to serve others," the school said. "Brooke never met a stranger and loved everyone she met." The two girls had been with their grandparents, who remain missing, when the flooding occurred. The girls' parents were in a separate cabin and were safe, according to the school. "Blair and Brooke were young women of deep faith, and religion was one of their favorite subjects. On the night they died, they went to the loft of their cabin with their rosaries," the school said. "When Blair and Brooke were found the next day, fifteen miles downriver, they were together. Even in their last moments, they held tightly to each other, a powerful symbol of their lasting bond and their trust in God." − Thao Nguyen Jeff Wilson Jeff Wilson died in the flood, according to a social media post from the Humble Independent School District. "Tonight our #HumbleISDFamily is grieving the devastating loss of @HumbleISD_KPHS teacher Jeff Wilson, who passed away due to the catastrophic flooding in Kerrville," the school district said, which is located in the city of Humble in the Houston metropolitan area. Wilson had been a teacher in the school district for 30 years. He worked at both Humble High School and Kingwood Park High School. "He was a beloved teacher and co-worker to many and will be deeply missed," according to the school district. "Jeff's brother-in-law has shared that at this time, Jeff's wife Amber and son Shiloh are still considered missing. Please continue to keep their entire family, and ours, in your prayers." − Thao Nguyen Sarah Marsh Sarah Marsh, an 8-year-old from suburban Birmingham, Alabama, died in the flooding at Camp Mystic in Texas, according to Mountain Brook Mayor Stewart Welch. Welch said the city of Mountain Brook was heartbroken over the "tragic loss" of Sarah, who was a student at Cherokee Bend Elementary. The mayor noted that the community would come together and support the Marsh family. "This is an unimaginable loss for her family, her school, and our entire community," Welch said in a statement on Facebook. "Sarah's passing is a sorrow shared by all of us, and our hearts are with those who knew and loved her. As we grieve alongside the Marsh family, we also remember the many others affected by this tragedy." − Thao Nguyen Dick Eastland Camp Mystic owner Richard "Dick" Eastland died while trying to save campers, the Houston Chronicle and the Washington Post reported. Family and friends of Eastland described him as a father figure for generations of girls who attended the summer camp, according to the Chronicle. In an Instagram tribute, his grandson said Eastland was more than his grandfather. He said Eastland was his "dear friend, fishing buddy, hunting guide, golf partner, avid Texas Longhorns fanatic, my #1 fan, and above all else: a hero." "If he wasn't going to die of natural causes, this was the only other way, saving the girls that he so loved and cared for," George Eastland wrote in the post. "That's the man my grandfather was. A husband, father, grandfather, and mentor to thousands of young women, he no longer walks this earth, but his impact will never leave the lives he touched." − Thao Nguyen Hanna and Rebecca Lawrence The twin granddaughters of David Lawrence Jr., the former publisher of the Detroit Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network, were among the dozens killed over the weekend, he told the Miami Herald. The girls, both 8 years old, and their sister, 14, attended Camp Mystic, the newspaper reported. 'It has been an unimaginable time for all of us," Lawrence told the Herald. "Hanna and Rebecca gave their parents, John and Lacy, and sister, Harper, and all in our family, so much joy. They and that joy can never be forgotten." Contributing: Charles A. Ventura, USA TODAY
International Business Times
05-07-2025
- International Business Times
Renee Smajstrla and Janie Hunt: Two Girls from Texas Christian Camp Found Dead While Several Others Remain Missing after Devastating Floods
At least two of the missing girls from Camp Mystic were found dead during the overnight search and rescue operations in Texas on Friday, according to family and local reports. Renee Smajstrla, 8, and Janie Hunt, 9, were among as many as 25 campers swept away by the devastating flash floods in the Guadalupe River. "Thank you to all our friends and family for all the prayers and outreach. 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," her uncle wrote on Facebook along with a picture of the young girl. Total Devastation in Texas "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. Please continue to pray for the other families in Kerrville." Janie was also found dead, according to Corpus Christi Crónica. The 9-year-old's mother told CNN on Friday that she hadn't received any information about her daughter's whereabouts since the flood struck the camp. "We are just praying," Janie's mother had said. It remains unclear whether any other campers have been confirmed dead, but local reports suggest that some of the girls were rescued and taken to centers where they could be reunited with their families. So far, 24 people have been confirmed dead, including Heart O' the Hills Director Jane Ragsdale. Between 23 and 25 girls from the Christian overnight camp—which welcomes girls aged 7 to 17—were carried away by the powerful floods early Friday morning, including several who had been inside cabins that were swept away. Dramatic Rescue A young girl was dramatically rescued after being swept 12 miles downstream by powerful floodwaters in Texas. Photos showed the terrified child clinging to tree branches as the swollen rapids surged below her. According to News 4 San Antonio, the girl—whose identity has not yet been revealed—was eventually brought to safety. In a separate video, a helicopter was seen airlifting someone to safety following the historic flooding that struck Texas on Thursday. Kerr County was hit hard by the rapidly rising waters, which devastated a summer camp and left more than 25 girls missing. The National Weather Service reported that the Guadalupe River—which runs alongside Camp Mystic in the San Antonio suburb of Hunt—surged over 20 feet within just 90 minutes, marking the worst flooding the area has experienced since 1987. A flood warning was issued at 4 a.m., when most residents were still asleep. Governor Greg Abbott said on Friday night that the death toll had climbed to 24, including several children, though he did not confirm if any of the missing campers were among the victims. Search efforts continued into Saturday morning as rainfall continued across Hill County. Officials warned that the risk of additional flash flooding remained high, with alerts in place from San Antonio to Waco for the next 24 to 48 hours. The Guadalupe River also flooded parts of Kerr County in 1987, sweeping away a church bus and killing 10 teenagers. Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly said that the campgrounds currently lack an official warning system.
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
At least 27 are dead after a catastrophic Texas flood. Search continues for missing girls from summer camp.
Extreme flooding in Central Texas left at least 27 dead. Over two dozen girls from a summer camp remain missing. The director of another camp was among those killed in the flood, according to the camp's website. On what should have been a festive Fourth of July, disaster struck in Central Texas. Extreme flooding left at least 27 dead in Kerr County, and as many as 25 children are missing from Camp Mystic, a Christian girls' camp along the Guadalupe River. President Donald Trump said his administration is working with state and local officials to respond to the flooding. On Truth Social, Trump said Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem would arrive in Texas "shortly." "Melania and I are praying for all of the families impacted by this horrible tragedy," Trump wrote on Saturday. "Our Brave First Responders are on site doing what they do best. GOD BLESS THE FAMILIES, AND GOD BLESS TEXAS!" Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said at a press conference on Saturday morning that there were 27 confirmed fatalities in Kerr County after torrential rains early Friday morning, but that he expected that numbers to rise. As much as 12 inches of rain fell in the county on Friday, with additional rainfall anticipated this evening, officials said. The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning at 4 a.m. As rain continues to fall, a desperate search is underway for those who may have been swept away by the floodwaters. Officials said Saturday during a press conference that there were more than two dozen people still missing, at least. Camp Mystic, located in Hunt, Texas, has about 750 campers. At least 25 girls remained unaccounted for on Saturday, officials said. "That does not mean they've been lost," Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said at an earlier press conference Friday afternoon. "They could be in a tree. They could be out of communication. We're praying for all those missing to be found alive." In a statement posted to its website, the Heart O' the Hills, another girls' camp based in Hunt, said its director, Jane Ragsdale, had died in the floods. "We have received word that Jane Ragsdale did not make it," it said. "We are mourning the loss of a woman who influenced countless lives and was the definition of strong and powerful." It added that the camp was not in session as the flooding hit, and that "most of those who were on camp at the time have been accounted for and are on high ground." Patrick said during the afternoon press conference that the Guadalupe River rose 26 feet in 45 minutes. During the Friday night news conference, which was live-streamed on Facebook, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott called upon God and the community. "It needs God, but also needs a robust response by the state and local governments, and by people who live in these communities impacted," he said. "We had a meeting with officials at the state and local level, and there is extraordinary collaboration to make sure that we are going to address everybody's concern as quickly as we possibly can." Camp Mystic welcomes girls once they've completed second grade. In the Guadalupe River camp group, girls can enroll in one of three sessions, each lasting either two or four weeks. The sessions run from May 30 to August 10, with dates divided across the summer. On Facebook, parents and community members have circulated flyers with contact numbers, urging the public to help locate the missing children. An 8-year-old from Dallas is among the missing. Her mother told WFAA News on Friday evening that she was traveling to reach the camp. Kerr County has an estimated population of about 53,900, according to a 2024 counting by the US Census Bureau. The county sits in the Hill Country region of Central Texas, which includes cities like San Antonio and Austin. Beyond the Guadalupe River, the region is home to several others, including the Colorado, Concho, and Blanco Rivers. With the county focused on locating the missing, several local cities have canceled Independence Day events. This is a developing story. Check back for updates. Read the original article on Business Insider
