Latest news with #JuliaAndersonBurgess
Telegraph
09-07-2025
- General
- Telegraph
Girl, 8, orphaned in Texas floods after family camping trip ends in tragedy
An eight-year-old girl was left orphaned after her family's RV was swept away by the Texas floods. Jenna Burgess is the sole survivor of her family-of-five after flash floods devastated central Texas, killing at least 109 people over the July 4 weekend. Rescue workers waded through muddy river banks searched by air for survivors on Tuesday as the number of those missing climbed to 160, and hopes dwindled of finding further survivors. 'There very likely could be more added to that list,' said Texas governor Greg Abbott. Jenna's family were staying at Blue Oak RV Park in Kerr County on Friday when the Guadalupe River burst its banks, sending a torrent of water gushing through the popular holiday area and laying waste to several children's summer camps. Her father Jack Burgess, 39, and mother Julia Anderson Burgess, 38, were both killed as the river rose rapidly in the early hours of the morning. Her younger brothers Jack, 5, and one-year-old James are still missing and presumed dead. Witnesses reported that her father's final moments were spent clinging to a tree in a desperate attempt to save his sons, according to MailOnline. Jenna was staying at a nearby camp that was missed by the floods. She now faces growing up alone after her entire immediate family was killed. In the neighbouring camp site, a Texas father left a farewell voicemail to his children saying he was 'not going to make it', moments before he and his wife were swept away by flood waters. Jeff Ramsey, 61, an insurance salesman from Lewisville, was staying at the HTR RV Park in Kerrville with his wife, Tanya, 46, and the couple's dog when the deadly torrent struck. 'He called me once he realised there was no hope. It was a short voicemail,' his son, Jake Ramsey, 24, told The New York Post. 'He said, 'Buddy. I love you so much. It doesn't look like we are going to make it. Tell Rachey I love her,'' referring to Jeff's sister, Rachel Ramsey, 23. Kerr County, where search and rescue workers have recovered 87 bodies, was one of the regions worst hit by the floods. It is home to Camp Mystic, where at least 27 children and counsellors died, with the families of Blakely McCrory, 8, and Mary Grace Baker, 8, confirming their children's deaths over the past 24 hours. 'Her giggle was contagious, as was her spirit,' Mary's school wrote in a moving tribute. Donald Trump announced at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday that he plans to visit the state on Friday alongside the First Lady. 'He could not stop talking about how sad he was for all the little girls who have lost their lives,' the Texas governor said of the president. The Trump administration has faced criticism for staffing cuts to the National Weather Service, which saw nearly 600 employees laid off earlier this year, The New York Times reported. Local officials have also faced questions, with Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha being asked at a press conference on Tuesday about authorities' alleged 'slow response' to the floods. Responding to questions about the federal relief efforts, Kristi Noem, the homeland security secretary, said that the disaster response was handled by state officials and emphasised the administration's efforts to support disaster response workers. Visibly emotional, she said: 'We're cutting through the paperwork of the old FEMA streamlining it, much like your vision of how FEMA should operate.'
Daily Mail
08-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Father swept away after he refused to give up 'babies' while clinging to tree during Texas flood
A father who lost his life in the tragic Texas floods had desperately clung to his 'babies' as the waters ravaged the RV park where his family was vacationing. John Burgess, 39, was found dead after the deluge swept him away from the RV park with his two young boys. Their mother was also take by the floodwaters. Family members confirmed John's death and recently announced that his wife, Julia Anderson Burgess, 38, was also killed in the floods. Their two young boys - James, 1, and Jack, 5 - are still missing. The couple's daughter, Jenna, was staying at a nearby camp that wasn't impacted by the floods. She has been found safe but was left to deal with the tragedy. Witnesses said the father's haunting last moments were spent clinging to a tree while trying to save his sons. Lorena Guillen, the owner of the Blue Oak RV Park in Kerr County, told the New York Post that she saw John hold his children before the floods swept them away. 'My husband was in the water trying to ask them, "Please throw me your baby!" The man was holding tight to his babies, and he just got swept away,' Guillen recalled. Guillen said the family had come to the RV park to celebrate the holiday weekend and the kids were 'so excited' to be there. She recalled the haunting images she witnessed during the floods, including when she rushed to the riverside to see multiple RVs washed away. Guillen and her husband awoke in the middle of the night to a rescue team on their property. 'My husband and I ran down. By then, the first level of the RVs was already washing away. The river went up about 10 feet at that time,' the park owner said. 'A family of five was stranded because they were the ones closest to the river. Their RV was floating away. It was pitch black, it was so dark.' She said emergency responders recovered eight bodies from her property and the neighboring RV park had 40 missing people. Authorities have issued a massive search and rescue operation since the tragedy, as the death toll has hit over 100 victims. As officials comb through the rubble for bodies and survivors, dozens of families have been left to grieve the lives lost. Tributes have already begun to pour in for the Burgesses, as many hold out hope for word on their two young sons. Michael Schwab, a family member, confirmed the deaths on X. 'These past few days have been devastating for my family as we continue to mourn the loss of John Burgess, and have been praying for Julia Anderson Burgess and their two sweet boys,' he wrote. 'We were deeply saddened to learn this morning that my cousin Julia Anderson Burgess's body has now been found. We continue to pray for their two boys who are still missing at this time.' Julia was a teacher at Liberty Elementary in Liberty, Texas, a small town of just about 8,000 outside of Houston. Liberty shared a tribute for Julia writing on social media, 'Our hearts are with the Burgess family -- please continue to pray.' Mark Linabury, the president and CEO of East Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce, posted a photo of John cutting a ribbon for his financial services business, and wrote, 'I still find it hard to accept the news about John Burgess. 'We just saw him at our luncheon on Wednesday before the tragic event. As I search through photos, I can't help but notice your amazing smile that could light up any room, and that of your beautiful family.' Laura Taylor-McGuire, a colleague of Julia's told local CBS affiliate, KWTX-TV, 'They were the sweetest and kindest family and would do anything for anyone.'
