Texas Rangers release names of 117 killed in July 4 flood

The Texas Rangers on Friday released the official names of 117 people killed in the July 4 flash floods that devastated Kerr County, marking the first time authorities have confirmed the identities of victims through official channels.

Two people remain missing from the catastrophic flooding that struck the Texas Hill Country during the Independence Day holiday weekend, according to a joint statement from Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring and Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly. The list does not include Ingram volunteer firefighter Tony Fernandez Jr., who died a week after the flood and after working tirelessly on the volunteer effort.

The flood stands as one of the deadliest natural disasters in modern Texas history. Heavy rains caused the Guadalupe River to rise more than 25 feet in two hours, overwhelming summer camps, recreational areas and homes along the riverbank.

“These names are not new to our community; they are our family, friends and neighbors, and they are forever engraved in our hearts,” Herring and Kelly said in their statement.

The victims ranged in age from 1 to 91 years old and came from across Texas and several other states. Many were visiting the area for July 4th celebrations or attending summer camps when the flash flooding struck in the early morning hours.

Among the dead were 27 people associated with Camp Mystic, a Christian girls’ summer camp in Hunt, including campers, counselors and staff. The camp’s executive director, Dick Eastland, was also killed.

Entire families perished in the flooding, including the Burgess family of Liberty — parents John and Julia Burgess and their sons James, 1, and John, 5. The Zunker family of Kerrville lost four members: parents Reece and Paula Zunker and their children Holland, 3, and Lyle, 7.

The two people still missing are Jeffrey Ramsey, 63, of Lewisville, and Cecilia Steward, 8, of Austin.

“Our search is not over. Two families are still waiting to bring their loved ones home,” the officials said. “We ask for your continued prayers for the affected families, our community, all the dedicated first responders who have not given up, and for all those supporting recovery efforts.”

More than 1,000 local, state and federal personnel participated in search and recovery operations following the disaster. President Donald Trump signed a federal disaster declaration for the county and visited the area to survey the damage.

The flooding occurred when remnants of Atlantic Tropical Storm Barry merged with moisture from the Pacific, creating thunderstorms that stalled over Central Texas. Some areas received up to 15 inches of rain in just hours.

Kerr County sits in an area known as “Flash Flood Alley” due to its steep terrain, shallow soil and susceptibility to intense rainfall. The region has experienced multiple deadly floods in recent decades.

“The city of Kerrville and Kerr County are strong and resilient,” Herring and Kelly said. “In unity, we find strength; in compassion, we find healing; and in resolve, we find the will to carry on.”

Those who died in the flood

Carol Andrews, 65, Athens, Texas
Joyce Badon, 21, Beaumont, Texas
Mary Baker, 8, Beaumont, Texas
Linda Bason, 78, San Antonio, Texas
Anna Bellows, 8, Houston, Texas
Lila Bonner, 9, Austin, Texas
Joni Brake, 66, Abilene, Texas
Robert Brake, 67, Abilene, Texas
Elizabeth Bryan, 61, San Antonio, Texas
James Bryan, 62, San Antonio, Texas
James Burgess, 1, Liberty, Texas
John Burgess, 39, Liberty, Texas
John Burgess, 5, Liberty, Texas
Julia Burgess, 39, Liberty, Texas
Ella Cahill, 21, Beaumont, Texas
Blake Carpenter, 3, Austin, Texas
Brian Carpenter, 36, Austin, Texas
Chloe Childress, 18, Houston, Texas
Martha Crawford, 61, Houston, Texas
Cody Crossland, 45, Midland, Texas
Michelle Crossland, 50, Midland, Texas
Molly DeWitt, 9, Houston, Texas
Lucy Dillon, 8, Houston, Texas
Ronald Duke, 80, Hunt, Texas
Josephine Dunlap, 68, Andrews, Texas
Richard Dunlap, 73, Andrews, Texas
Katheryn Eads, 52, Cibolo, Texas
Richard Eastland, 70, Austin, Texas
Steve Edwards, 72, San Angelo, Texas
Penny Ferguson, 76, Odessa, Texas
William Ferguson III, 82, Odessa, Texas
Katherine Ferruzzo, 19, Houston, Texas
Jayda Floyd, 22, Odessa, Texas
Miriam Frizzell, 72, Abilene, Texas
Ellen Getten, 9, Houston, Texas
Sally Graves, 91, Ingram, Texas
Hadley Hanna, 8, University Park, Texas
Blair Harber, 13, Dallas, Texas
Brooke Harber, 11, Dallas, Texas
Charlene Harber, 74, Dallas, Texas
William Harber, 76, Dallas, Texas
Alyson Hardin, 64, Weston, Florida
Josephine Hardin, 28, Weston, Florida
Aidan Heartfield, 22, Beaumont, Texas
Deana Hillock, 57, San Antonio, Texas
Virginia Hollis, 8, Bellville, Texas
Charlotte Huff, 55, Kerrville, Texas
Janie Hunt, 9, Dallas, Texas
William Huston, 61, Sherman, Texas
Al Iorio, 66, San Antonio, Texas
Mary Kate Jacobe, 8, Houston, Texas
Emlyn Jeffrey, 70, San Antonio, Texas
Madelyn Jeffrey, 11, San Antonio, Texas
Penelope Jeffrey, 70, San Antonio, Texas
Melissa Kamin, 45, Humble, Texas
Robert Kamin, 50, Humble, Texas
Dee Ann Knetsch, 66, Canyon Lake, Texas
Gary Knetsch, 60, Canyon Lake, Texas
Lainey Landry, 9, Houston, Texas
Hanna Lawrence, 8, Dallas, Texas
Rebecca Lawrence, 8, Dallas, Texas
Kellyanne Lytal, 8, San Antonio, Texas
Tianna Mabey, 66, Ovilla, Texas
Claire Manchaca, 21, Conroe, Texas
Sarah Marsh, 8, Birmingham, Alabama
Amanda Martin, 44, Odessa, Texas
Bailey Martin, 23, Odessa, Texas
Robert Martin, 46, Odessa, Texas
Linnie McCown, 8, Austin, Texas
Blakely McCrory, 8, Bellaire, Texas
Clayton Meadows, 29, Hamilton, Texas
Harley Moeller, 6, New Braunfels, Texas
Jake Moeller, 38, New Braunfels, Texas
Megan Moeller, 33, New Braunfels, Texas
Virginia Naylor, 8, Dallas, Texas
Alicia Olvera, 67, Hunt, Texas
Jose Olvera, 70, Hunt, Texas
Richard Pagard, 71, Kerrville, Texas
Clay Parisher, 1, Austin, Texas
Eloise Peck, 8, Dallas, Texas
Bradley Perry, 49, League City, Texas
Abby Pohl, 8, Austin, Texas
Cynthie Ragsdale, 68, Hunt, Texas
Joel Ramos, 43, Midland, Texas
Kyndall Ramos, 17, Midland, Texas
Tasha Ramos, 48, Midland, Texas
Tanya Ramsey, 46, Lewisville, Texas
Carlos Romero, 1, Kerrville, Texas
Leonardo Romero, 42, Kerrville, Texas
Cynthia Rushing, 53, Sulphur Springs, Texas
James Rushing, 64, Sulphur Springs, Texas
Julian Ryan, 27, Ingram, Texas
Camille Santana, 38, Wichita Falls, Texas
Ileana Santana, 66, Mobile, Alabama
Mila Santana, 5, Wichita Falls, Texas
Eddie Santana Negron Sr., 69, Mobile, Alabama
Mollie Schaffer, 76, Houston, Texas
Shon Scott, 53, Andrews, Texas
Margaret Sheedy, 8, Houston, Texas
Alvaro Sigala Miranda, 69, San Antonio, Texas
Renee Smajstrla, 8, Ingram, Texas
Michael Smith, 67, Dripping Springs, Texas
Pamela Smith, 64, Dripping Springs, Texas
Mary Stevens, 8, Austin, Texas
Greta Toranzo, 10, Houston, Texas
Natalia Venzor, 24, Kerrville, Texas
John Walker, 14, Kentfield, California
Mark Walker, 51, Kentfield, California
Roy Walker, 63, Hunt, Texas
Sara Walker, 50, Kentfield, California
Amber Wilson, 45, Coldspring, Texas
Jeffrey Wilson, 55, Coldspring, Texas
Shiloh Wilson, 12, Coldspring, Texas
Holland Zunker, 3, Kerrville, Texas
Lyle Zunker, 7, Kerrville, Texas
Paula Zunker, 35, Kerrville, Texas
Reece Zunker, 36, Kerrville, Texas

Still Missing

Jeffrey Ramsey, 63, Lewisville, Texas
Cecilia Steward, 8, Austin, Texas