Latest news with #Harber
The Sun
07-07-2025
- General
- The Sun
Sisters, 11 & 13, found dead with ‘hands locked together' after being swept 15 miles by floods as dad tried to save them
TWO young girls were found dead with their hands interlocked after raging floods ravaged Texas communities, killing dozens of people. Sisters Blair, 13, and Brooke Harber, 11, were on a trip with family in Hunt, Texas, when intense late-night flooding took place suddenly on Friday. 5 5 RJ Harber, the father, was awoken suddenly in his cabin at about 3:30 am to the sounds of rushing water in the home. Right around the same time, daughter Brooke texted her grandparents and father and said that she loved them. As the cabin flooded, RJ and wife Annie attempted to break a window to check on their daughters, who were staying with their grandparents in a cabin five houses down with two dogs. "At that point the water was rising one foot per minute," a GoFundMe for the family read. "The waters were too high to get to our family so he went to other neighbors to borrow a kayak." RJ was unable to reach the cabin in the kayak due to the rough conditions. He then fled to a nearby house with other survivors alongside his wife as the freezing waters had reached chin level. 5 "Houses started falling apart and floating away," Jennifer Harber, the victims' aunt, said. "I believe only 4 or 6 are left standing out of 20 houses in that community." Just 12 hours later, Brooke and Blair were found dead around 15 miles away. The girls were still holding each others hands when their bodies were located. Dad dies after having arm 'almost cut clean off' while saving wife & kids as they floated on mattress in Texas floods Their grandparents who were staying with them that night, Mike and Charlene Harber, are still missing. The sole survivor of the cabin found was the family's lab, who shockingly made it out of a window and found the parents at the house up the hill. The other dog also did not make it. "They were believers and one of their favorite classes was religion," Jennifer said of the girls. Message from Harber Family From Jennifer Harber: "My brother and his wife Annie identified the bodies of my nieces Blair age 13 and Brooke age 11 yesterday afternoon about 12 hours after the flood that started the morning of July 4th at 3:30am. My parents Mike and Charlene Harber have not been found as of now. Prayers are needed so we can bring them home. "My brother R.J. and Annie made it back to Dallas yesterday evening. "The storm woke them up at 3:30am and they wanted R.J. to walk five houses down towards the river in their gated community of Casa Bonita in Hunt, TX. to check on the girls who they had tucked in bed that night at 11pm. My parents were downstairs in the guest bedroom and my nieces were upstairs in the loft. My mom, dad and nieces stayed at that house because the house they owned was a one bedroom and the neighbors were kind enough to let them stay there since they were out of town. To my brothers surprise when he stepped out of bed their house had already started to flood. They said you couldn't hear it at all because the rain was so loud. If they had not woken up to check on the girls they would have drowned too. It's a miracle they got out they had to break a window and get out immediately. At that point the water was rising one foot per minute. The waters were too high to get to our family so he went to other neighbors to borrow a kayak. He woke two neighbors up for help saved their lives and borrowed a kayak but the water had risen too high to reach the neighbors house that my parents and nieces and their 2 dogs were at. He attempted by kayak and the house was only 5 houses down closest to the river but the waters were too rough. He knew he would be swept away there were white caps on the waves so kayaked back to where the other 6 survivors were. Rain pouring, loud thunder and lightning they had nightgowns on. Transmitters were going off everywhere. It was pitch dark. By the time they got out the water was up to Annie's chin. They said they were surprised they didn't have hypothermia it was freezing waters. RJ, Annie and the other 5 they woke somehow made it to a house on the other side of the flooded highway and strangers let all 7 in. Somehow their lab made it out of the window and I don't know how but found them across the flooded highway up the hill at that house. Their other dog did not make it. Shortly after they crossed the highway the houses in their gated community were swept away as were cars. Trees uprooted. Very shortly after they crossed the flooded highway houses started falling apart and floating away and I believe only 4 or 6 are left standing out of 20 houses in that community. "Brooke texted my brother, her Grandmother and Grandfather on Annie's side saying I love you at 3:30am. My nieces were upstairs in the loft. They were believers and one of their favorite classes was religion. Blair and I had a conversation about God and heaven two weeks earlier. They had their rosaries with them. Their bodies were found yesterday afternoon 15 miles away in Kerrville. When they were found their hands were locked together. "What RJ and Annie went through that morning was a nightmare. They were rescued that afternoon but were stuck in Hunt the Coast Guard couldn't even get to them. Annie was rescued by helicopter and I think RJ attempted another way earlier to get help. "I'm a flight attendant for Southwest Airlines and my amazing company is going to fly my nieces home from San Antonio after their autopsy and when they recover my parents their bodies too. "Brook and Blair will have a joint funeral at St. Rita. To be determined. We haven't even had time to figure out my parents. We need find them first. "We are beyond devastated and so heartbroken. Prayers are much appreciated and what we needed at this time. "Please help us find my parents so we can have closure and bring them home. Thank you." Source: GoFundMe "Blair and I had a conversation about God and heaven two weeks earlier. They had their rosaries with them." So far, the family's GoFundMe has raised over $177,300 of its $200,000 goal, with over 1,400 donations. The floods have killed over 80 people, with the number expected to rise as bodies are recovered. At least 28 of those deaths are children. One of the biggest tragedies of the flood occurred at Camp Mystic, a girls summer camp where at least 27 campers and counsellors were killed as water overflowed from the Guadalupe River. Some still remain missing. 5 5 "We have been in communication with local and state authorities who are tirelessly deploying extensive resources to search for our missing girls," the camp wrote to its website. "We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of support from community, first responders, and officials at every level." The director of the camp, Richard Eastland, was among the dead. As first responders continue their search and clean up after the disaster, rain is expected to hit the state again on Monday, possibly complicating efforts. "We continue our 24/7 search & rescue operation until every missing person is found," Texas Governor Greg Abbott said on X Sunday. "It's crucial that Texans remain vigilant."
Newsweek
07-07-2025
- Climate
- Newsweek
Sisters Killed In Texas Floods Found With 'Hands Locked Together'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Two sisters, 13-year-old Blair and 11-year-old Brooke Harber, were killed in the Texas Hill Country floods and found with rosaries and their "hands locked together," their family said. Newsweek has reached out to friends of the family via a GoFundMe online contact form for comment. The Context Flash floods swept across central Texas on Friday. More than 80 people have died, and many are missing, according to the Associated Press. Flooding struck as the Guadalupe River surged by more than 20 to 26 feet within 90 minutes, which caused widespread devastation and forced mass evacuations. Flood warnings have been activated by the National Weather Service across Texas, and many of these are expected to last until at least Monday morning. Flooding is the second-deadliest weather hazard in the U.S. after extreme heat, according to NWS data. Image from the Harber family's GoFundMe. Blair, 13, and Brooke, 11, are in the center. Image from the Harber family's GoFundMe. Blair, 13, and Brooke, 11, are in the center. GoFundMe What To Know The Harber sisters died while on a family trip to Casa Bonita, a gated community in Hunt, Texas, their aunt Jennifer shared in a message posted to a GoFundMe page. The two girls had been staying with their grandparents, Charlene and Mike Harber, both of whom are currently still missing. The girls' parents, RJ and Annie were staying in a separate cabin nearby. They woke to the sound of rushing water at around 3:30 a.m. and tried to shatter a window to reach their daughters, but the force of the water prevented them from being able to reach the home where the daughters were. Jennifer wrote in the GoFundMe that Brooke Harber had texted her father and her maternal grandparents at 3:30 am saying, "I love you." The sisters were found 15 miles away in Kerrville. "When they were found their hands were locked together," the GoFundMe reads. The GoFundMe described what had occurred as a "nightmare." In an aerial view, the sun sets over the Guadalupe River on July 06, 2025 in Kerrville, Texas. In an aerial view, the sun sets over the Guadalupe River on July 06, 2025 in Kerrville, People Are Saying A GoFundMe set up for the family reads in part: "RJ and Annie's daughters, Brooke (11) and Blair (13), were with their beloved grandparents, Charlene and Mike Harber, when they tragically lost their lives in the devastating floodwaters in Hunt, Texas. The family is now facing an unimaginable loss and a very long road ahead." Senator Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican, wrote in an X post on Saturday: "Heidi and I continue to lift up in prayer the families of the victims. It is imperative that all Texans heed the warnings and guidance of law enforcement. Please stay safe." What Happens Next On Sunday, President Donald Trump approved a "Major Disaster Declaration" for Kerr County, which unlocked federal assistance for rescue and recovery operations. Multiple local, state and federal agencies are continuing search and rescue operations amid the debris from the flood.
Daily Record
06-07-2025
- Climate
- Daily Record
Bodies of two school girls discovered as 27 children still missing after Texas floods
Blair Harber, 13, and Brooke Harber, 11, were among those killed in the flooding in Kerr County, Texas. A devastated father has revealed how his two daughters, aged 13 and 11, have both perished after being caught in catastrophic flooding, whilst his parents remain unaccounted for. Emergency teams continue searching through a ravaged central Texas terrain littered with twisted trees, capsized vehicles and debris-clogged wreckage in what appears to be an increasingly desperate hunt for survivors, including 27 girls who vanished when Camp Mystic was battered by a torrential deluge. RJ Harber has confirmed that his daughters Blair, 13, and Brooke Harber, 11, both lost their lives in the Kerr County floods, though they were not present at Camp Mystic. Speaking to CNN in tribute to the youngsters, he described Blair as someone who "was a gifted student and had a generous kind heart," whilst Brooke "was like a light in any room, people gravitated to her and she made them laugh and enjoy the moment." Mr Harber also revealed to the broadcaster that his parents Charlene and Mike are missing, and he fears they too have perished, reports the Mirror. Both girls attended St. Rita Catholic Community, where Blair was due to begin eighth grade and Brooke was set to start sixth grade, the school confirmed. A prayer service was held on Saturday afternoon to mourn and celebrate their lives. It's understood the sisters had been staying with their grandparents beside the Guadalupe River, whilst their parents remained safe in a different cabin. "Please keep the Harber family in your prayers during this time of profound grief. May our faith, our love, and our St. Rita community be a source of strength and comfort in the days ahead," Fr. Joshua J. Whitfield, pastor, implored in a message to his church members, as reported by CBS News. The floods in Kerr County have claimed the lives of at least 43 individuals, including 15 children, with an additional eight fatalities confirmed in neighbouring counties. Officials have yet to release information on the number of people still unaccounted for, aside from the children from Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp situated along a river in Kerr County where the majority of the victims were found. The Guadalupe River witnessed a catastrophic surge, with water levels rising 26 feet (8 metres) within a mere 45 minutes before dawn on Friday, resulting in the destruction of homes and vehicles. The threat persisted as heavy rainfall continued to batter areas around San Antonio on Saturday, with flash flood warnings and watches still in place. Rescue teams employed helicopters, boats, and drones in their search efforts for those missing and to save individuals trapped in trees or cut off by roads that had been obliterated by the floods. Governor Greg Abbott has assured that rescue operations will continue non-stop and mentioned that new regions are being scoured as the floodwaters recede. He has proclaimed Sunday to be a day of prayer across the state.
Yahoo
13-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Augustana Softball continues streak, tops Crookston
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Augustana) – In the opening doubleheader of Alumni Weekend, No. 14 Augustana softball came out hot and took control early for the Saturday afternoon sweep at Bowden Field. The Vikings improve to 35-9 overall and 17-3 in the NSIC while the Golden Eagles drop to 15-28 and 3-13. The two wins extend Augustana's current win streak to 10 while improving its record against UMC to a perfect 32-0. GAME ONE: No. 14 Augustana 12, Minnesota Crookston 1The bats were on fire for the Vikings in game one—including a hot shot performance from Stella Harber—and helped take a convincing 12-1 win. Action really got into gear in the second inning as Augustana put on a stunning two-out rally. Ella Cooper was hit by pitch to start the at-bats and advanced her way to third following back-to-back groundouts. Briana Lee knocked a single to third base to score the run and she was soon joined on base after a single from Liz Dierks. Andrea Cain smashed a triple to left field, scoring both base runners, and made it home herself after a double from Desi Cuevas. The fiery rally scored four runs for the home team, opening up a 4-0 game. The Golden Eagles loaded the bases up with no outs in the top of the third, but only one would score. Harber didn't allow that score to last long as she slammed a two-run homerun shot over the right field fence on her first pitch of the at-bat to put the Vikings further ahead at 6-1. In the bottom of the fourth inning, Cuevas knocked out a double and Lexi Lander drew a walk after a marathon 14-pitch at-bat to put two on base. Ashton Dorman then doubled on her first pitch to left field to score one before Harber stepped up to bat. She, yet again, smashed a three-run homer to right field to clear the bases and push it to a 10-1 game. Norah Christiansen drew a walk in the following at-bat and scored off a double from Sidney Smart, who soon came home off a single from Dierks. UMC would fall in order in the top of the fifth to secure the 12-1 victory for AU. Cain, Dierks and Harber all logged two hits apiece in the affair as Harber led with her two homeruns and five RBI. Lander drew two walks, Dierks tallied the lone stolen base of the game and Cuevas knocked out two doubles. In the circle, Grace Glanzer took the win to improve to 17-6 this season. She collected three strikeouts in her four innings of work while allowing just one run. GAME TWO: No. 14 Augustana 2, Minnesota Crookston 0It was a slow start for both teams in game two as it ended up coming down to the final two halves of action before the Vikings emerged with a 2-0 win. AU and UMC each knocked out a hit in the first inning—totaling four and three hits, respectively, through the first five innings—but no runner would make it past second base until the sixth inning. Lander singled down the left field line but a sacrifice bunt and a fly out soon had the Vikings facing another two-out situation with a pinch runner on second base. Harber continued her hot streak with a double up center field to break the stalemate and score Hailey Houston. Christiansen followed that up with a single that brought around pinch runner Lee for what would end up being the final 2-0 advantage. Leading at the plate was Lander, who went 2-of-3 while five other Vikings each added in a hit. Cuevas and Harber both knocked out a double apiece as Cooper drew the lone walk. Lander also took home the win in the circle, tossing seven complete innings with eight strikeouts for the shutout victory. UP NEXTAugustana will return to action tomorrow afternoon with a 12 p.m. doubleheader against Bemidji State at Bowden Field and will celebrate with Senior Day festivities. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘It's pretty black and white': Nonprofit fighting back against change in Sumner County Library Board policy
GALLATIN, Tenn. (WKRN) — A nonprofit organization is warning of potential legal action against Sumner County's library board. The Sumner County Library Board has been a contentious topic among locals for some time. The board, which people volunteer to serve on, was reduced in size in March by the county commission because elected officials could not agree on who should fill the vacancies. Now, the board is looking to enact a previously-approved policy change that would give them the power to approve donation funds, and what to spend those funds on for each county library. Leaders look to reinvent the old Sumner County Courthouse One of the donors, a charitable nonprofit and separate entity known as 'The Friends of Public Libraries' in Sumner County, believe this is overreach. 'Our frustration lies in that, in the proposal of this policy, [it] shows the lack of qualifications by this board to properly, legally, and effectively govern our libraries,' explained Michele Harbin with Portland's Friends of Public Libraries. 'Anything out of the scope of those basic needs of the library– salaries, building maintenance, and circulated items– 'The Friends' make up the difference through fundraising,' Harbin continued. For further context, 'The Friends' organization gives back to all Sumner County public libraries. Typically, they donate money for things like upgrades (i.e. a teen room), holiday celebrations, or community events like bingo. 'It's a pretty black and white issue, because they [the board] can't touch that money, unless they would like to each join the separate 'Friends of the Libraries,'' said Harbin. Debate over science textbooks in Wilson County To highlight their frustration, The Friends of Portland Library sent a 'legal letter' to the Chair of the library board this week, ahead of Wednesday's library board meeting. The letter reads that the new policy 'infringes on the rights' of their organization and should be amended or 'deleted' to reflect the true powers and duties of the library board. While acknowledging that recent state law has forced local libraries to adapt how they operate, Harbin said the county's library board appears to have an alternative agenda. 'They do not have the experience or the knowledge about libraries. One guy that got appointed to the library board did not even have a library card!' Harbin detailed. 'The current library board chair, and some of the candidates that they have pushed forward, they just want to make sure they are conservative, Christian candidates.' Harber said a form used to be available on the county website that interested candidates could fill out for consideration on the board. 'That form has since disappeared,' Harber said. ⏩ Worth noting: these policy changes were already approved by the library board last year. During Wednesday afternoon's meeting, the implementation process will be discussed and voted on, along with other items, including the handling of 'challenged' books and materials in county libraries. News 2 reached out to the Library Board's Chair, Joanna Daniels, for a comment but did not hear back at the time of this publication. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
