As historic floodwaters swept through central Texas over the Fourth of July weekend, communities were caught off guard by the sudden and overwhelming force of nature. In the aftermath, heartbreaking stories of heroism and resilience are coming to light—none more moving than that of John Burges, a father from Liberty, Texas.
Burges, his wife Julia, and their two young sons had been vacationing at the Blue Oak RV Park in Kerr County when the floods hit. Witnesses say John was last seen clinging to a tree with his children in his arms, refusing to let go even as the water surged around them.
“My husband was in the water calling out, ‘Please throw me your baby!’” said Lorena Guillen, the owner of the RV park. “But the father wouldn’t let go. He was holding on to his babies until the very end.”
The Burges family has since been reported missing. Their daughter, who had been attending a nearby summer camp, survived. The community has rallied around the search efforts, clinging to hope as emergency crews continue their work.
The floods have taken a devastating toll across the region. More than 100 lives have been lost, and dozens remain unaccounted for. In Kerr County, one of the hardest-hit areas, both grief and determination have united residents as they search for answers—and each other.
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