The death toll in Central Texas climbed to 82, with victims including Camp Mystic campers, sisters Blair and Brooke Harber who died holding hands, and camp director Dick Eastland. As the floodwaters receded, more victims were being identified and their stories shared.
Among the victims was Reece Zunker, a beloved teacher and high school soccer coach, and his wife Paula, who were found dead following the devastating flash flooding in Kerr County. The school district expressed their sorrow, stating that Reece was a passionate educator and a beloved soccer coach, while Paula, a former teacher, also left a lasting mark on the community. Their two children, Lyle and Holland, remained missing at the time of the report.
Blair and Brooke Harber, aged 13 and 11, were sleeping in a riverside cabin in Hunt, Texas, with their grandparents when the torrent swept away their home. The family shared their harrowing story in a GoFundMe post, detailing how the rising floodwaters, which increased by one foot per minute, made it nearly impossible for them to escape. Their parents, R.J. and Annie, broke a window to escape and borrowed a kayak to try to reach their children, but the water had risen too high to be able to rescue them. The bodies of Blair and Brooke were found 15 miles away in Kerrville, still holding hands.
Tanya Burwick, a 62-year-old Walmart employee in San Angelo, was last seen heading to work on the morning of the storm. Her unoccupied SUV was found submerged later that day, and her body was discovered the following morning near the vehicle.
Janie Hunt, a 9-year-old camper at Camp Mystic, was one of the children who lost her life in the disaster. She was a family member of Kansas City Chiefs owner Clark Hunt, and her aunt Tavia Hunt expressed the family’s devastation in an Instagram post, stating, “Our hearts are broken by the devastation from the floods in Wimberley and the tragic loss of so many lives – including a precious little Hunt cousin, along with several friend’s little girls.”
Camp Mystic director Dick Eastland was also among the victims, as he made the ultimate sacrifice attempting to save his campers from the flood. His family and friends described him as a selfless man who poured his life into developing girls and women of character. The camp’s statement said, “He was the heart of The Heart,” and that he was “our guiding light, our example, and our safe place.”
Other victims included Anna Margaret Bellows, Renee Smajstrla, Linnie Anne McCown, Sarah Marsh, and Mary Kathryn Jacobe, all of whom were attending Camp Mystic. Their families expressed their grief, emphasizing the profound impact these children had on their communities and the deep loss they now face.