A Texas father, Jeff Ramsey, left devastating “goodbye” voicemails for his children as he was tragically swept away by floodwaters at a campsite in Kerrville. His final selfless act was to warn his in-laws, allowing them precious time to escape the impending deluge.
The man’s son recounted the harrowing discovery on the morning of July 4th: “My sister and I, we woke up to the worst voicemail you could possibly imagine getting… It’s just my dad telling us he loves us. … He pretty much said, ‘I think this is it.’“
Tragic Loss Amidst Widespread Flooding
Jeff Ramsey, 61, and his wife, Tanya Ramsey, 46, both perished when floodwaters overwhelmed their camper on July 4th. The deadly floods in Kerrville and other parts of central and southern Texas resulted in at least 119 fatalities and left more than 150 people still missing.
In the early hours of July 4th, as the water rapidly rose around him, Ramsey used his final moments to send heartfelt messages to his family and to sound the alarm about the grave danger. Tanya Ramsey’s brother and mother, who were staying in a cabin nearby, were able to escape thanks to Ramsey’s warning call.
Rushing water was audible in the voicemail Ramsey left for his children, and his son recalled hearing his wife, Tanya, “screaming ‘We’re dying, we’re dying'” in the background. His father’s message to him was brief but poignant: “Buddy. I love you so much. It doesn’t look like we are going to make it. Tell Rachey I love her,” referring to his sister.
Delayed Warnings and a Puppy’s Rescue
Flash flood warnings from the National Weather Service were issued to Kerrville officials shortly after 1 a.m. on July 4th. However, the Kerrville mayor stated he wasn’t informed of the severe flooding until around 5:30 a.m., tragically an hour after the Ramseys had already been swept away.
Despite the devastating loss, Tanya Ramsey’s brother, who searched for the couple after Ramsey’s call, was able to rescue Chloe, the family’s puppy. Ramsey’s son expressed their relief, saying, “We were ecstatic to hear that Chloe was still alive… She’s just such a huge part of my dad and Tanya’s heart, so to have her back here with us, it means the world to us.”
