Dozens of individuals have died from the flooding, in accordance with officers.
KERR COUNTY, Texas — A devastating scene unfolded within the Hill Nation on the Fourth of July as at the very least 27 folks, together with kids, died resulting from flooding in Kerr County. That quantity is predicted to extend and search and rescue operations proceed Saturday.
Whereas KENS 5 continues to be working to substantiate the identities of these misplaced, here’s what we all know concerning the individuals who we’ve recognized.
Jane Ragsdale
The Kerrville Each day Occasions confirmed that Jane Ragsdale, a camp director at Coronary heart O’ the Hills Camp in Hunt, died in Friday’s flash floods.
Ragsdale was a camper and counselor at Coronary heart O’ the Hills Camp within the 1970’s earlier than turning into a co-owner of the camp in 1976. She served as program director earlier than turning into the camp director in 1988.
The Coronary heart O’ the Hills web site describes Ragsdale as “the center and soul” of camp as she had obtained the Pioneer Trailblazer Award from the Pioneer Alumni Affiliation in 2022 and the Speedy Altman Award, a nationwide lifetime achievement award from the Camp Homeowners and Administrators Affiliation.
Renee Smajstrla
Renee Smajstrla’s household has confirmed that she died as a result of flooding. Renee was a camper at Camp Mystic, who finally verify nonetheless have about 23 women unaccounted for.
“Renee has been discovered and whereas not the end result we prayed for, the social media outreach doubtless assisted the primary responders in serving to to determine her so rapidly,” the household mentioned in a Fb publish. “We’re grateful she was together with her mates and having the time of her life, as evidenced by this image from yesterday. She’s going to eternally be residing her greatest life at Camp Mystic. Please proceed to hope for the opposite households in Kerrville. We at the moment are making an attempt to make our means house from Italy to be with Michelle’s household.”
Jeff Ramsey
Eric Steele confirmed to KENS 5’s sister station, WFAA , that his brother-in-law, Jeff Ramsey, died after floodwaters rushed by the HTR campground alongside the Guadalupe River in Kerrville in a single day on Friday, the place the household was staying.
Ramsey’s physique has been recovered, Steele confirmed. Jeff’s spouse, Tanya Ramsey, stays lacking as of 11:15 a.m. Saturday. Steele mentioned Tanya’s cellphone was discovered inside her windbreaker jacket.
Julian Ryan
When the river water began to rise, Julian Ryan, who lives alongside the river together with his fiance, two children and his mom, sprang into motion. These actions ended up being the final of his life.
By means of tears and shock, the 27-year-old’s members of the family mentioned the daddy, brother, and fiancé died a hero.
“He died a hero, and that may by no means go unnoticed,” Ryan’s sister, Connie Salas, mentioned.
We’ll proceed so as to add victims as we affirm their identities.
