Country music artist Pat Green announced on Monday, July 7, that his brother, sister-in-law, and two nephews were among those swept away by the devastating floods in Central Texas, which have taken over 120 lives throughout the area. The deeply personal tragedy continues to impact the Texas singer as emergency crews persist in their search for survivors following the catastrophic events of July 4.
Green conveyed the heartbreaking news about his family through a moving social media post shared on July 8. He wrote that his loved ones experienced a profound and personal loss during the weekend’s intense flooding in Central Texas, acknowledging that his family is mourning alongside many other Texans whose lives have been uprooted by the disaster.
Pat Green’s wife, Kori Green, provided further insight into the situation in a separate online update. She disclosed that the missing family members were Green’s younger brother John, John’s wife Julia, and their two young sons, who were carried away by the floodwaters in Kerrville. Describing the family’s anguish, she said they remain heartbroken and are desperately hoping their relatives will be found safe.
Local sources report that John Burgess and Julia Anderson Burgess, along with their sons James and Jack, had been staying at the Blue Oak RV Park in Kerr County when the flooding struck. The family had planned to spend the night camping before picking up their daughter Jenna from a summer camp nearby. Fortunately, the camp was untouched by the flood, and Jenna was unharmed.
Lorena Guillen, owner of the Blue Oak RV Park, witnessed the incident firsthand. She said John Burgess was seen gripping a tree with his sons in his arms as the waters surged. Guillen recalled her husband trying to help from the water, urging Burgess to pass the children to him, but John clung to his sons before all three were overtaken by the flood.
Official updates have since confirmed that the bodies of John and Julia Burgess have been recovered. John’s body was found on July 5, and Julia’s was located on Monday, July 7. The search is still underway for their two sons, James, age one, and Jack, age five, who are still missing.
Living in Liberty, Texas, east of Houston, the Burgess family was part of a close-knit community. John graduated from China Spring High School near Waco, while Julia was a teacher at Liberty Elementary School. As the search goes on, neighbors have placed flowers and stuffed animals outside the family’s home to show support and pray for the missing boys.
Due to the dangerous weather, Pat Green had already postponed his concert in Luckenbach, Texas, which was scheduled for Saturday night. On July 4, he announced on Facebook that the event would be rescheduled for August 16 because of the hazardous weather and ongoing tragedy in the Texas Hill Country. The concert was originally planned at a venue just sixty miles from Kerr County.
The widespread flooding in Central Texas began late on Thursday, July 4, unleashing disastrous conditions along the Guadalupe River. Water levels surged more than 25 feet in under an hour, resulting in record-breaking flash floods. The Blue Oak RV Park, situated behind Howdy’s Restaurant along the riverbank, suffered some of the most severe damage.
The disaster has affected six counties in Central Texas, with Kerr County suffering the greatest losses.
Rescue teams continue their operations throughout the hardest-hit areas. Texas EquuSearch has resumed its efforts along the Guadalupe River, utilizing cadaver dogs, boats, and heavy machinery. The group’s founder, Tim Miller, remarked that the destruction from this flood is among the worst volunteers have ever witnessed.
On Sunday, July 7, President Donald Trump declared the region a Major Disaster Area, clearing the way for federal assistance and mobilizing the Federal Emergency Management Agency. FEMA has since been on-site, helping with emergency relief and recovery throughout Central Texas.
At 53, Pat Green is a celebrated figure in Texas country music, known for popular songs like Wave on Wave and Carry On. Hailing from San Antonio, he began his career independently in Lubbock and rose to fame as one of the trailblazers of the Texas country subgenre in the late 1990s. His 2003 hit Wave on Wave peaked at number three on the country charts, and he earned a nomination for New Artist of the Year at the 2004 Academy of Country Music Awards.
As of July 12, official tallies put the statewide flood fatalities at 133, with 106 confirmed in Kerr County alone (70 adults, 36 children) and additional deaths in five other counties (Travis 9, Kendall 9, Burnet 5, Williamson 3, Tom Green 1).