Along the devastated banks of the Guadalupe River, loved ones of James and Cindy Rushing say reality is setting in.
“It just escalated very quickly to, it wouldn’t happen to us. That’s not it. No. There’s no way… And then we got here and we saw how high the waters were and the debris and you’re like, there is a way, so we’re just trying to hold onto hope that there is no way it’s us,” said Tamra Blasius.
Watch NBC 5 free wherever you are
The couple traveled from Sulphur Springs to the Hill Country with their white and grey Aspen Trail camper pulled by a white Dodge Ram.
Get top local stories delivered to you every morning with NBC DFW’s News Headlines newsletter.
Their daughters, Blasius and Sarah Jones, said the couple never mentioned where they were setting up camp, simply that it was along the Guadalupe River near Fredericksburg.
“It’s literally the definition of a needle in a haystack,” said Blasius.
Another family member later found the last known location of James’s cell phone at the HRT Texas Hill Country Campground.
With little information, the Rushings’ daughters say they’re checking every campsite and hospital. They say checking with funeral homes is a last resort.
“It’s been a very overwhelming experience and because you just want to find them. And like Tamra said, I’m praying to the good Lord above that he leads us to where they are and that they’re safe,” said Jones.
The Rushings are in their 50s and 60s.
James is described as about 6’4 with a tattoo on both his chest and arm.
Cindy is described as about 5’4.” Both have grey hair.
The couple are just two of an unknown number of people who remain missing.
Jeff and Tanya Ramsey from Flower Mound are also on that list.
The family said they first believed Jeff to be among the deceased.
Today, his brother told NBC DFW, it was a misidentification. Once again, his best friend is unaccounted for.
In response to questions about what people can do to help the area recover from the deadly flood, Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country, a 501(c)(3) charity serving the Texas Hill Country, has established a relief fund to support vetted local response, relief and recovery efforts.
Organizers said all donations go directly to organizations working on the front lines of the July 4 flooding emergency. All donations are tax-deductible, and you will receive a receipt for your gift.
To learn more or donate, visit the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country here.
