Brooke and Blair Harber died after flash flooding in Central Texas. Now, the North Texas faith community is reacting to their loss.
DALLAS, Texas — Two sisters who attended St. Rita Catholic School in Dallas are being remembered as “bright lights” by family and loved ones.
Brooke and Blair Harber were swept away in devastating floodwaters in Central Texas. The girls, described as inseparable and full of light, were found dead the day after floods tore through the town of Hunt.
“Blair and Brooke were the brightest and the most beautiful,” said Father Joshua Whitfield, who leads St. Rita and is speaking on the family’s behalf.
The sisters were students at St. Rita Catholic School in Dallas, where their parents are active members of the church community. The family was vacationing near the Guadalupe River last weekend when torrential rains caused the river to swell rapidly.
Whitfield said the girls had been staying in a cabin near the river with their grandparents, Mike and Charlene. Their parents were in a separate cabin.
On Friday morning, a wall of water rushed through the area. The girls’ father, RJ Harber, told The Wall Street Journal that he attempted to kayak to reach them, but was unable to make it through the rising floodwaters.
The sisters’ final message to their parents was a text that simply said: “I love you.”
Search crews later found the girls’ bodies 15 miles downstream from where they were staying. According to Father Whitfield, they were found holding hands.
“To lose two beautiful girls… it’s hard to comprehend. And it cuts to the heart,” he said.
The tragedy has shaken the St. Rita community, where the sisters were well known and loved. Light pink and yellow ribbons have been tied to trees throughout their neighborhood in Dallas.
A prayer service was held Sunday evening, where community members gathered in silence and sorrow.
“Right now, words are less important,” said Father Whitfield. “What matters most is simply being there.”
Though their family has not spoken publicly, they’ve permitted Whitfield to share how deeply this loss is felt.
“Whatever emotions we feel, they feel with an intensity that is hard to understand,” he said. “The first thing I think of is their smiles… and in the same breath, I think of heaven.”
Loved ones have established a fundraising page to support the Harber family. You can access it here.