State Leaders Express Sorrow After 8-Year-Old Mountain Brook Girl Killed in Texas Flood
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WAKA, AP News) — State leaders are expressing their sorrow after an 8-year-old girl from Birmingham was identified as one of the campers killed in the flooding at Camp Mystic in Hunt, Texas, in the early morning hours of July 4.
Sarah Marsh was a student at Cherokee Bend Elementary in Mountain Brook. Her father, Patrick Marsh, is an assistant professor at Samford University, according to a social media post by Samford University President Beck Taylor.
The girl’s grandmother, Debbie Ford Marsh, posted on Facebook, saying, “We will always feel blessed to have had this beautiful spunky ray of light in our lives. She will live on in our hearts forever!” Marsh wrote. “We love you so much, sweet Sarah!”
Gov. Kay Ivey also commented on Friday’s tragedy saying, “Alabama joins in lifting up all impacted by the floods in the Hill Country — especially as we grieve the tragic loss of one of our own, young Sarah Marsh of Mountain Brook. We pray for her family, and the other families facing unimaginable loss and strength as the searches continue.”
U.S. Sen. Katie Britt shared her condolences on the social media platform X, writing, “Wesley and I are heartbroken over the loss of Sarah Marsh, and we are keeping her family in our thoughts and prayers during this unimaginable time. We continue to pray for the victims’ loved ones, the survivors, those who are still missing, and our brave first responders as search and rescue efforts continue in Texas.”
The death toll from flash floods that raged through central Texas has risen to 82 after searchers found more bodies. Authorities say many more remain missing, including 10 girls from Camp Mystic, a summer camp wiped out by the flooding early Friday. Searchers now have found 68 bodies in Kerr County where a wall of water came down the Guadalupe River. Sheriff Larry Leitha says the dead include 28 children.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott warned Sunday that additional rounds of heavy rains lasting into Tuesday could produce more life-threatening flooding. Some families were allowed to look around the hardest hit camp in the Hill Country on Sunday while nearby crews continued their search.
