Two sisters found dead in Texas floods with 'hands locked together' as grandparents remain missing

HUNT, TEXAS: What was meant to be a peaceful family getaway in the scenic Texas Hill Country ended in tragedy when two young sisters were swept away by catastrophic floodwaters — their lifeless bodies later found “with their hands locked together."

Blair and Brooke Harber, just 13 and 11 years old, were spending the weekend in Casa Bonita, a gated community in the small town of Hunt, Texas. The Harbers had no way of knowing that a sudden flash flood was about to rip through the area in the early hours of Friday morning, July 4.

At around 3:30 am, the girls’ father RJ Harber was jolted awake by the sound of pounding rain. It was so intense outside, he couldn’t even hear the water as it began rushing through the front door of their cabin, RJ’s sister Jennifer later told KLOU.

That same hour, little Brooke sent a gut-wrenching text to her dad and her maternal grandparents. “I love you,” she wrote. It would be the last message they ever received from her.

Texas parents' desperate race to save their daughters

RJ and his wife Annie — who works as an instructional specialist at St Rita’s Catholic School in Dallas, where both girls were students — knew they had to act fast. Their daughters were staying in a separate cabin nearby.

In a frantic attempt to reach their girls, RJ and Annie smashed a window and crawled outside into the flood. But the water was rising too fast and too violently, making it impossible to reach the cabin where Blair and Brooke were sleeping.

With seconds counting down and water levels climbing, the couple raced to a neighbor’s house and woke them up, begging to borrow a kayak. The hope was to paddle their way through the chaos. But the raging water proved too much, even for the kayak.

Ultimately, RJ, Annie, and five of their neighbors had to be rescued. Jennifer later wrote on a GoFundMe page that despite the couple's heroic efforts, the waters were too rough.

Blair and Brooke were found 12 hours later and 15 miles away. They hadn’t let go of each other. “Their hands were locked together,” Jennifer shared with KLOU.

Remembering Blair and Brooke Harber

The sisters were remembered as kind, joyful, and deeply faithful. They had reportedly brought their rosary beads with them on the trip.

“[Blair] was a gifted student and had a generous kind heart,” RJ told CNN. “[Brooke] was like a light in any room, people gravitated to her and she made them laugh and enjoy the moment.”

The entire community at St Rita’s Catholic School has been left devastated by the loss.

Meanwhile, the search continues for the girls’ grandparents, Mike and Charlene Harber, who are still missing.

They had been staying in the more spacious second cabin, offered to them by neighbors who were out of town. The Harbers thought it would be more comfortable for the girls to bunk there with their grandparents.

Texas floods: A disaster of historic proportions

At the time of this writing, at least 82 people have died in Texas, with over 40 still missing. Kerr County, which sits in the heart of the Texas Hill Country, has been the most severely hit with 68 fatalities, including 28 children.

The July Fourth weekend, usually full of fireworks and family barbecues, turned into a horror story. The floods hit fast and without mercy. President Donald Trump called it a "100-year catastrophe." 

The Guadalupe River rose an insane 26 feet in just 45 minutes. Campgrounds were washed away, cars tossed like toys, and entire summer camps — including the famed Camp Mystic — were obliterated.

Other counties didn’t escape the chaos either. Travis lost 6 people, Burnet 3, Kendall 2, Williamson 2, and Tom Green 1, per Click2Houston.

Governor Greg Abbott has since declared a major disaster, calling Sunday a statewide day of prayer. “We will get through this,” he said, while also acknowledging that the 41 missing persons number may not reflect the true count - especially given how many campers and holiday-goers were scattered throughout the region.

Tough questions and a community in mourning after Texas floods

As the recovery efforts continue, questions are being raised about the flood warnings, or lack thereof. While the National Weather Service had issued alerts, many locals claim they never got any kind of real warning before the deluge hit.

Some survivors described the moment as being hit by a “pitch black wall of death.” Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly admitted, “We didn't know this kind of flood was coming.”

President Trump has signed a major disaster declaration for Kerr County, activating the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to aid in recovery

Emergency crews — including helicopters, boats, and drones — are still out searching for the missing.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online