The image of sisters Blair and Brooke Harber found hand-in-hand after being swept away by Texas floodwaters has become a symbol of both the tragedy and enduring love that has gripped the state. The girls, aged 13 and 11, were discovered 15 miles from where the raging waters tore them from their grandparents’ home near Hunt.
Their parents, R.J. and Annie Harber, survived a harrowing escape that saw them break through a window as waters rose to chin-level. “They tried everything to reach the girls,” said Jennifer Harber, the girls’ aunt. “Even borrowing a kayak, but the current was too strong.”
Heartbreaking details continue to emerge – including Brooke’s final “I love you” text sent just before the flood hit, and the fact that the deeply religious sisters had recently discussed heaven with their aunt. Family photos on their GoFundMe page show a close-knit family now torn apart, their matching Christmas pajamas and summer dresses reminders of lives cut short.
As search teams continue looking for grandparents Mike and Charlene Harber, the tragedy forms part of a larger disaster that has claimed at least 81 lives across central Texas. At Camp Mystic, floodwaters rose 26 feet in 45 minutes, sweeping away campers in their sleep. President Trump has declared a major disaster as communities rally to support survivors.
