In a heartbreaking turn of events, Jeff Ramsey, a 61-year-old father, tragically lost his life in the devastating floods that struck Kerrville, Texas, on July 4. Just moments before the floodwaters overtook his camper, he left a poignant voicemail for his children, expressing his love and fear.

Jake Ramsey, Jeff's 24-year-old son, recounted the moment he received the voicemail. "My sister and I, we woke up to the worst voicemail you could possibly imagine getting on a 4th of July morning," he said. In the message, Jeff told his children, "Buddy. I love you so much. It doesn’t look like we are going to make it. Tell Rachey I love her."

The tragedy unfolded as Jeff and his wife, 46-year-old Tanya Ramsey, were staying at the HTR RV Park. At 4:49 a.m., they received a text alert urging them to evacuate due to rising floodwaters. However, the message arrived too late, as the couple was already being swept away. Jake described the timing as "ridiculous," noting that the evacuation alert came just as his father was leaving the voicemail.

The floodwaters rose rapidly, with the Guadalupe River reaching nearly 30 feet in under an hour. Despite the National Weather Service issuing flash flood warnings to local officials shortly after 1 a.m., Kerrville's mayor stated he was unaware of the flooding until around 5:30 a.m., after the Ramseys had already perished. A county-wide alert was sent out around 6 a.m., but by then, it was too late for many.

In the chaos, Tanya's brother and mother, who were staying nearby, received a warning from Jeff that allowed them to escape. However, they were unable to locate the Ramseys. They did manage to rescue the couple's dog, Chloe, who has since been reunited with the family. Jake expressed relief at Chloe's survival, stating, "We were ecstatic to hear that Chloe was still alive and to know that she was coming back home."

The floods have claimed at least 95 lives in Kerr County, including 36 children, with 161 people still reported missing. As the community grapples with the aftermath, questions are being raised about the effectiveness of the emergency notifications and the preparedness of local authorities. Jake Ramsey voiced his concerns, saying, "I know there could have been much more done to prevent this tragedy."

The Ramseys' story highlights the urgent need for improved emergency response systems in the area. As the family mourns their loss, they are left with lingering questions about the lack of timely warnings and the overall safety measures in place during such natural disasters.