Flash floods in Kerr County leave more than 40 missing, including Air Force veteran Robert Brake and his wife, Joni.
KERR COUNTY, Texas — It was the first time Robert Brake Sr. and his wife Joni Brake visited Kerr County. Their grandson, Ryen Brake, said they were spending the Fourth of July with their son and his wife.
“They are patriots through and through,” Ryen Brake said.
Robert Brake, 67, is an Air Force veteran, and Joni, 66, is a registered nurse on the Air Force Base in Abilene.
“The Fourth of July was a favorite holiday for our family, and unfortunately, I don’t think that’s going to be the case anymore,” said Ryen.
His grandparents, Robert and Joni, are among the more than 40 still missing after flash floods swept through the area, claiming at least 100 lives.
“My father received a call from my uncle,” said Ryen. “He had just been abruptly woken up to his RV floating away, and he was losing everything just in complete panic.”
He shared a video of his uncle’s RV floating as water rose. Ryen’s grandparents were about 20 yards away. He said they briefly spoke with them as his uncle ran to their campsite.
“It just stated that, hey, you need to wake up. You need to get out of there now. Everything’s underwater. There’s a lot of trouble coming your way,” said Ryen.
However, in the roughly four to six minutes it took Ryen’s uncle to get to his grandparents, everything washed away.
“There are RVs wrapped around trees 20 feet high,” said Ryen. “What’s making it so challenging for everybody is that there is so much debris left that has not been uncovered or overturned yet.”
More than two dozen children have died from the rushing water, and some are from North Texas.
Brooke and Blaire Harber were students at St. Rita Catholic School in Dallas. They were staying in a cabin with their grandparents, who were among those still missing. Their parents survived the flood.
St. Rita’s said in a statement, “Blaire and Brooke were young women of deep faith.”
Eloise Peck was an 8-year-old student at Bradfield Elementary in Dallas. She was visiting Camp Mystic in Kerr County. Peck had a love for animals. Blueberry Hill Farm and Rescue started a memorial fund in her honor. They shared the following statement:
Eloise (LuLu) Peck was a bright, joyful spirit who brought warmth and laughter into every life she touched. At just eight years old, her profound love and compassion for animals shone brightly, reflecting the purity and kindness of her heart. She started a dog walking service this summer with 25% of her earned proceeds going to Blueberry Hill Farm and Rescue.
In honor of Lulu’s beautiful life and the extraordinary love she held for animals, Blueberry Hill Farm and Rescue has established this memorial fund. Your generous donation will continue Lulu’s legacy by helping to provide care, love, and support to animals in need. Missy and Tim will be notified when a donation has been made.
Together, we will keep Lulu’s memory alive, nurturing hope and healing for animals. Lulu’s name will forever live on at BHFAR with a newly constructed shelter officially being named Lulu’s Puppy Hut. This shelter will provide much-needed warmth, safety, and a loving place for our foster puppies to stay until we find their forever homes …We will cherish our sweet Lulu, her name and her love of animals daily here at our rescue farm 💙🫐💙
For more information on Eloise Peck’s memorial, click here.
Lila Bonner was also visiting Camp Mystic. Her dance instructor, former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader Erica Wilkins, posted to Instagram, “Lila, I know you are in the arms of our Savior Jesus now and I pray you are dancing and singing in heaven bringing joy to everyone up there just as you did here.”
Dallas twins, Hanna and Rebecca Lawrence, were eight years old.
Their grandfather, David Lawrence Jr., said in a statement, “It has been an unimaginable time for all of us. Hanna and Rebecca gave their parents, John and Lacy, and their sister Harper, and all in our family, so much joy. They and that joy can never be forgotten.”
As dozens of more names are learned, the devastation only deepens.
“The only reason that we still have hope is through the good Lord above,” said Ryen.