The devastating flash floods in Texas have left a nation in mourning, as heartbreaking stories continue to emerge from the disaster. Among the most tragic is that of John Burges from Liberty, Texas, who was swept away while clinging to a tree with his two sons. Witnesses say he refused to let go of his children, even as floodwaters overtook them. All three vanished together.
“My husband was in the water begging, ‘Please throw me your baby!’” said Lorena Guillen, owner of Blue Oak RV Park. The Burges family had been staying there over the Fourth of July weekend. John’s wife, Julia, and their sons remain missing. Their daughter, away at a nearby summer camp, survived.
Kerr County has become the heart of the tragedy, with over 100 lives lost and many still missing. Camp Mystic, a beloved girls’ summer camp along the Guadalupe River, confirmed the deaths of at least 27 children and staff. Eleven more are unaccounted for.
Camp director Richard “Dick” Eastland died guiding children to safety. “If he wasn’t going to die of natural causes, this was the only other way,” said his grandson, George Eastland.
The Blue Oak RV Park was destroyed. Guillen described hearing screams and watching trailers smash into trees as the river surged by 10 feet. A nearby family of five couldn’t escape as their trailer was swept away.
Despite the darkness, many stepped up. Volunteers, neighbors, and emergency responders continue rescue efforts. Amid grief and loss, hope and resilience remain. Texas stands united in sorrow, remembrance, and strength.
