5 hours ago
Last Updated:July 07, 2025, 14:43 IST
Devastating floods in central Texas claimed 82 lives, including Blair (13) and Brooke Herber (11), who were found dead with their hands locked. Their grandparents are missing.
Onlookers walk along the banks of the Guadalupe River in Louise Hays Park, Saturday, July 5, 2025, in Kerrville, Texas. (AP Photo)
The devastating floods in central Texas that claimed at least 82 lives, has left many families in moments of despair and grief. One such family is of Blair Herber (13) and Brooke Herber (11), the two sisters who were found dead with their hands locked. While their grandparents remain missing.
The deadly disaster, triggered by rapid flooding of the Guadalupe River, struck during the July 4 weekend, upending families and holiday campers in the Hill Country region.
The two young sisters from Dalla were on a family camping trip near the Guadalupe River and were swept away by floodwaters while staying in a cabin in the gated community of Casa Bonita in Hunt, the Associated Press reported. Luckily, their parents survived the flood.
The sisters’ bodies were found dead, still holding hands, nearly 15 miles from where they were last seen.
Blair and Brooke were students at St. Rita Catholic School in Dallas. In the early hours of Friday, at around 3:30am, their parents, RJ and Annie Herber, were awakened by rising floodwaters. After waking up, they found a message from Brooke that simply read, “I love you."
According to a GoFundMe page set up by their aunt Jennifer, the same text was also sent to the girls’ maternal grandparents, Mike and Charlene Herber, who are still untraceable.
According to media reports, their parents attempted to reach their daughters but were unable to access the cabin due to the intense rain and flooding. They borrowed a kayak from neighbors and tried to paddle to the cabin but were eventually swept away by the current and had to be rescued along with five others. The girls’ bodies were recovered 12 hours later, leaving the family devastated.
The girls’ aunt was reported as saying that the sisters hands were “locked together".
Meanwhile, authorities continue to search for survivors and the missing, though the full scale of the disaster remains uncertain. Both President Donald Trump and Texas Governor Greg Abbott have signed emergency disaster declarations, paving way to provide more aid to the region. Trump has stated he will likely visit the affected areas on Friday.
The tragedy has left communities across Texas reeling, as families mourn their losses and volunteers work tirelessly to support ongoing rescue and recovery efforts.
Manisha Roy is a Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com's general desk. She comes with an experience of over 5 years in media industry. She covers politics and other hard news. She can be contacted at Manisha.Roy@nw18...Read More
Manisha Roy is a Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com's general desk. She comes with an experience of over 5 years in media industry. She covers politics and other hard news. She can be contacted at Manisha.Roy@nw18...
Read More
Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)
First Published:News world Texas Floods: Sisters Found Dead With 'Hands Locked' Had Sent ‘I Love You’ Text To Parents
