On her way to work, a granny from a small village vanished. A popular director of a girls’ summer camp in Texas. An elementary school pupil from Alabama who is not at home. These are just a handful of the numerous victims that Texas has lost.
At least 82 people were killed Friday by the flooding in central Texas that started on the Guadalupe River. Search and rescue operations are still in progress, according to authorities, including for campers who went missing from a girls’ summer camp.
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Burwick, Tanya
Tanya Burwick left for work at a Walmart in the San Angelo area early on Friday, and her family last heard from her when she called in a panic about the floodwaters. Burwick’s employer sent a coworker to search for her after she failed to show up for work and filed a missing persons report.
Later that day, police looking into the disappearance of the 62-year-old discovered Burwick’s empty SUV completely underwater. The following morning, her body was discovered a few blocks away from the car.
Lindsey Burwick noted that her mother was a cherished parent, grandma, and coworker to many, adding that she brightened the room and had a giggle that made others laugh.
Working at a fireworks stand that has been in the family for generations, she and her brother Zac said the day was particularly challenging because it fell on July Fourth. The stand, which is housed in an orange-painted trailer, was visited by residents of Blackwell, a small village of around 250 people, as word of Tanya Burwick’s disappearance spread.
According to Lindsey Burwick, people came to our aid.
According to San Angelo police, the floodwaters have damaged over 12,000 homes, barns, and other structures in the roughly 100,000-person municipality.
In a Facebook post, the San Angelo Police Department asked the public to keep the Burwick family in their prayers and thoughts as they deal with this tragic event.
Ragsdale, Jane
The Heart O the Hills Camp is a summer camp for girls in the Texas Hill Country, and Jane Ragsdale, 68, dedicated her life to it. Before becoming a co-owner in the 1970s, she worked there as a counselor and camper. She was in charge of the camp in Hunt by the 1980s.
According to a statement from the camp, she was the center of The Heart. She served as our beacon, our role model, and our haven. She possessed the unique ability to make everyone feel valued, loved, and seen.
When the floodwaters rose, no children were staying at the camp because it was in between sessions. According to camp officials, access to the site was still challenging and the camp’s facilities, which were immediately in the line of the flood, were severely damaged. The 1950s saw the establishment of the camp.
Ragsdale will be remembered for her courage and knowledge, according to camp authorities.
We are devastated. But most of all, the camp expressed gratitude. I’m honored to have known her, to have gained knowledge from her, and to continue her legacy.
Ragsdale, whose given name was Cynthie but whose middle name was Jane, discussed how much she loved her experiences and how her father was also a camp director in a 2015 oral history for the Kerr County Historical Commission.
She remembered, “I loved every minute of camp from the first time I stepped foot in one.”
A memorial on the camp’s Facebook page featured videos of Ragsdale singing to campers and strumming a guitar during a recent session: Today is a good day. So, keep singing until we cross paths once more.
Marsh, Sarah
The floodwaters killed a number of people, including eight-year-old Sarah Marsh from Alabama, who was attending a long-running Christian girls camp near Hunt. Eleven children were remained unaccounted for as of Sunday afternoon.
Marsh attended the suburban Birmingham school Cherokee Bend Elementary.
In a Facebook post, Mountain Brook Mayor Stewart Welch stated, “Her family, her school, and our entire community are grieving an unfathomable loss.” We all share the sadness of Sarah’s departure, and our thoughts and prayers are with her loved ones.
He predicted that the roughly 20,000 residents of the neighborhood will support the Marsh family during their time of loss.
Debbie Ford Marsh, the girl’s grandmother, told The Associated Press via email on Sunday that her parents turned down an interview request because they are grieving an unfathomable loss.
We will always consider ourselves fortunate to have had this lovely, feisty light in our life. She will always be a part of our hearts! Marsh posted on Facebook. Sarah, you have our undying affection!
She refused to comment further.
The girl’s untimely death was also mentioned by U.S. Senator Katie Britt of Alabama.
In a statement on social networking site X, she stated, “As search and rescue operations continue in Texas, we continue to pray for the victims’ loved ones, the survivors, those who are still missing, and our courageous first responders.”
Brooke Harber and Blair
According to the Dallas-based St. Rita Catholic School, Sisters Blair and Brooke Harber were staying beside the Guadalupe River when their cottage was washed away.
The parents of the girls, Annie and RJ Harber, were staying in a separate cabin and were safe, according to Pastor Joshua J. Whitfield of St. Rita Catholic Community, which is located on the same grounds as the school. But there was no sign of their grandparents. Annie Harber has taught at the school for a long time.
According to a statement released by the church on Sunday, this tragedy has affected every part of our hearts.
Blair, who was enrolled in advanced grades, participated in a wide range of school activities, including speech, theater, basketball, and volleyball. As a rising sixth grader, Brooke participated in a variety of sports as a student athlete, including lacrosse and volleyball. The church said she also took part in speech and play.
Both were regarded as having pleasant dispositions and good souls.
Whitfield issued a message to parishioners on Saturday, saying, “We will honor Blair and Brooke’s lives, the light they shared, and the joy they brought to everyone who knew them.” And we will use the power and support of our St. Rita community to envelop Annie, RJ, and their extended family.
The church provided counseling and hosted a special prayer session on Saturday afternoon.
Whitfield said, “Please remember the Harber family in your prayers during this time of great sorrow.” May the St. Rita community, our love, and our faith provide us with courage and solace in the days to come.
Paula and Reece Zunker
Tivy High School in Kerrville, Texas, praised Reece Zunker as a beloved soccer coach and an enthusiastic educator.
The school said on its website on Sunday that his relentless commitment to our athletes, students, and the Tivy community touched countless lives and will always be remembered.
The school had a former teacher named Paula Zunker. According to the article, her students are still affected by the concern and influence she gave them years later.
According to the school, Lyle and Holland, the couple’s young children, were still unaccounted for.
In Hunt, the family had been lodging in a river house.
