NEED TO KNOW
“We are grieving alongside countless Texans whose lives have been upended by this tragedy,” he wrote on social media
According to NBC, the death toll has risen past 100, including attendees and counselors of Camp Mystic, a major site of devastation from the deadly floods
Pat Green is mourning his loved ones amid the devastating Texas floods.
In a statement posted on Instagram on Monday, July 7, the country singer revealed that his step-brother, his sister-in-law, and two of their children died as a result of the flooding in central Texas. John Burgess is Green’s step-brother, per the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
Burgess was staying with his wife Julia Anderson Burgess, and their two sons in an RV camp in Kerr County, per local media outlet KWTX. They were staying by the Guadalupe River, which rose over 25 feet in less than an hour due to severe rainfall on July 4.
KHOU reported Julia also died. As of publishing, both sons are still missing.
PEOPLE has reached out to Green’s reps for comment.
“Over the weekend, during the devastating flooding that hit Central Texas, my family — like so many others — suffered a heartbreaking and deeply personal loss,” Green, 53, began. “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,” Green, a San Antonio native, continued. “Thank you for your love, prayers, and compassion.”
His wife Kori Green shared the same statement on Instagram, adding that they are “so thankful for the outpouring of love and concern.”
“Pat’s little brother John, his wife, Julia, and two of their children were swept away in the Kerrville flood,” she continued. “We are heartbroken and anxiously waiting for all of them to be found. Thank you for your prayers💗.”
Jason Kempin/Getty
Burgess, his wife and their sons were staying there overnight to pick up their daughter Jenna from camp, which was not impacted by the flooding, KWTX reported. Lorena Gullen, owner of the Blue Oak RV Park in Kerr County, said Burgess tried to hold onto his sons and a tree simultaneously to stay alive.
“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 said, per The New York Post.
According to NBC, the death toll has risen past 100, including attendees and counselors of Camp Mystic, a major site of devastation from the deadly floods.
“The State of Texas is working around the clock to support emergency management personnel and local officials as they continue recovery and rescue operations across the state,” Texas Governor Greg Abbott said in a statement on July 7.
“There is still a threat of heavy rain with the potential to cause flooding in the Central Texas, Hill Country, Big Country, and Concho Valley regions. Texans are urged to remain weather aware, heed the guidance of local officials, and regularly monitor weather forecasts. Texas will remain engaged until every missing person is found and every Texan recovers from this disaster.”
Ilya S. Savenok/Getty
Days before announcing the death of his family members, Green revealed that he was postponing his July 5 show in Luckenbach amid the unprecedented rainfall and subsequent flooding taking place 60 miles away in Kerr County.
“Our prayers go out to all the families affected by the floods in the Texas Hill Country,” he wrote.
To learn how to help support the victims and recovery efforts from the Texas floods, click here.
