Houston-area residents have been affected by the catastrophic flash floods that inundated Central Texas over the holiday weekend, with many having been reported dead or missing.
Kerr County northwest of San Antonio, where floodwaters surged out of the Guadalupe River early Friday. reported 84 deaths as of Monday as the toll continues to climb. Among the confirmed deaths, 22 adults and 10 children had yet to be identified.
In Houston, hundreds gathered for a candlelight vigil Saturday night to pray for victims of the floods and campers considered missing, like 10-year-old Houston ISD student Greta Toranzo. She is among those at Camp Mystic who remained unaccounted for as of Monday morning.
Here are some of the people from the Houston area who have been reported dead or missing in the floods:
Chloe Childress
Childress, 18, was a counselor at Camp Mystic in Hunt. She attended Kinkaid School in Piney Point Village, a community in west Houston, and recently graduated.
School officials confirmed her death in a statement to families on Sunday, according to multiple news reports.
“Chloe had a remarkable way of making people feel seen,” according to the letter. “She was wise beyond her years, with a steady compassion that settled a room. Whether it was sharing her own challenges to ease someone’s burden or quietly cheering a teammate or classmate through a tough day, Chloe made space for others to feel safe, valued and brave.”
Mary Kathryn Jacobe
Jacobe, 8, was among dozens of children who reportedly died in the floods over the weekend. A family member of the girl confirmed her death to Houston TV station FOX 26.
“God called home our angel cousin, Mary Kate,” a cousin wrote on social media. “Our hearts are shattered and our words fail us.”
Anna Margaret Bellows
Bellows, an 8-year-old from Houston who was at Camp Mystic, died in the floods, according to multiple news reports.
Jane Ragsdale
Ragsdale, 68, was born in Houston and was the longtime director of the Heart O’ the Hills camp in Kerr County. She died Friday during the floods, according to the camp.
Mollie Schaffer
Houston lawyer Randy Schaffer said in a post Monday evening that his wife, Mollie Schaffer, was among those who died.
The couple was separated when their vehicle was caught by rising waters as they tried to escape the River Inn in Hunt, Randy wrote.
“I was carried underwater by the current towards the river,” he wrote. “I had no control of my body and figured this was the end. I was propelled into a pole that turned out to be 25 yards from the river. I wrapped my arms around the pole and climbed up until my head was above water. I looked for and called to Mollie, but didn’t see her or the car. She had been swept into the river.
“Mollie died in a manner consistent with how she lived — selflessly taking care of someone else before she took care of herself,” he added. “She wouldn’t leave the car until she was sure that I had done so. She saved my life. It wasn’t my day to die. I wish that it hadn’t been her’s.”
Jeff Wilson
Humble ISD Education Foundation
Wilson, who taught in Humble ISD northeast of Houston for 30 years, died in the floods, according to a Saturday night social media post by the school district.
Humble ISD said Saturday that Wilson’s wife and son were still considered missing. Wilson spent a combined 30 years as a teacher at Humble High School and Kingwood Park High School.
“He was a beloved teacher and co-worker to many and will be deeply missed,” the district said.
Hundreds of people gathered in Kingwood over the weekend in honor of Wilson and other victims of the deadly Central Texas floods. He was an active member of the community.
John and Julia Burgess
Liberty residents John and Julia Burgess, along with their two sons, were visiting Kerr County and traveling from an RV camp to another camp nearby to pick up their daughter when the flooding began Friday, according to .
John and Julia Burgess are among those confirmed dead. Their two sons were still considered missing as of Monday, according to a by a relative. Their daughter is reportedly safe with family members.
Several from Houston area considered missing
Some who have been reported missing, including young girls who attended summer camps in the Hill Country, are from the Houston area.
As of Monday, the following local residents were considered missing:
Katherine Ferruzzo
Ferruzzo, 19, was working as a counselor at Camp Mystic and is among those missing, according to the Houston Chronicle.
She reportedly graduated from Memorial High School in Spring Branch ISD, with plans to attend the University of Texas at Austin.
Kellyanne Lytal
Wade Lytal, a former Memorial High School football coach, said his daughter Kellyanne is among several girls from Camp Mystic who remained missing as of Sunday.
“Asking for all prayers for a miracle for my baby girl Kellyanne,” Wade Lytal wrote in a post to X. “She is still one of the Mystic Campers who is unaccounted for. I’ll never forget when she told me she had a lead solo in the Christmas Pageant. She is absolutely fearless.”
Greta Toranzo
Toranzo, 10, a Houston ISD student and Camp Mystic attendee, remained unaccounted for as of Monday morning, according to the Sinclair Elementary PTO.
More than 150 people convened in front of Sinclair in Houston’s Timbergrove neighborhood on Saturday night in honor of Toranzo — clutching electric candles as they bowed their heads to pray for her safe return home.
RELATED: Candlelight vigil held for Houston ISD student, others lost in Central Texas floods
Reese Manchaca
Montgomery County Judge Mark Keough
Manchaca, a recent graduate of Caney Creek High School north of Houston, is among those missing in Kerr County, according to Montgomery County Judge Mark Keough.
Manchaca was reported missing along with her three friends after the floodwaters swept them away, Keough wrote in a social media post.
Manchaca and her friends were last known to be near 1769 State Highway 39 across from Japonica Hills Road in Hunt, according to the county judge.
“I have been in contact with local officials and we will continue to assist in the search and rescue as requested,” Keough said.
Lainey Landry
Landry, 9, is reportedly among the children still considered missing in Central Texas. A Houston resident, she was attending Camp Mystic.
Her family was on their way to the area to search for Landry on Friday, according to ABC13.
Molly DeWitt
DeWitt, a student at Wilchester Elementary School in Spring Branch ISD, is among those missing, her school said in a Saturday Facebook post.
School officials gathered on Saturday to wrap trees in green ribbon in honor of DeWitt and other missing children.
“We are holding on to hope for the safe return of Molly, every child and every person,” the school said in its post.
Margaret Sheedy
Sheedy, a third-grader at Kinkaid School, is among those missing from Camp Mystic after the floods, according to multiple news reports. The school reported she was missing in a message to parents.
Brad Perry
Perry, a former League City volunteer firefighter, remained missing after he and his wife and their RV were swept away by rushing waters on Friday, , which spoke with his son.
According to the , Perry’s wife, Tina, was able to climb a tree approximately half a mile away from the RV park after getting separated from her husband. She remained clinging to the tree for five hours until she was rescued.
Rob and Melissa Kamin
The Houston-area residents are among those unaccounted for, according to multiple news reports and posts from family and friends on .
The Kamins were reportedly staying in an RV at the HTR TX Hill County RV Park and Campground in Kerrville. On Friday, the campground was overtaken by rapidly rising floodwaters.
Great Job & the Team @ Houston Public Media Source link for sharing this story.
