Texas flood death toll passes 90, 11 girls, one counsellor still missing

A pediatrician has been fired for a vile post suggesting Texas flood victims got “what they voted for” as the death toll surpasses 90 — with some girls still missing.

A pediatrician has been fired for a vile post suggesting Texas flood victims got “what they voted for” as the death toll surpasses 90 — with some girls still missing.

Dr Christina B. Propst drew widespread scorn following the disparaging, since-deleted post under her old Facebook username, Chris Tina, in which she suggested the victims were Donald Trump supporters who essentially deserved the catastrophic tragedy, according to Mediaite.

“May all visitors, children, non-MAGA voters and pets be safe and dry,” Probst wrote in the now-viral post.

“Kerr County MAGA voted to gut FEMA. They deny climate change. May they get what they voted for. Bless their hearts.”

The death toll from the catastrophic Texas Hill Country floods has surpassed 90 — with many children among the victims and several people still missing.

Houston pediatrician Dr. Christina Propst came under fire for a now-deleted social media post on the devastating Texas floods. Picture: Texas Democrats

Ms Propst’s employer, Blue Fish Pediatrics, initially said the employee had been suspended — before announcing that “the individual is no longer employed” by them, The NY Post reports.

“As we previously mentioned in our original statement, we strongly condemn the comments that were made in that post. That post does not reflect the values, standards, or mission of Blue Fish Pediatrics,” the company said.

“We do not support or condone any statement that politicises tragedy, diminishes human dignity, or fails to clearly uphold compassion for every child and family, regardless of background or beliefs.”

A previous statement saying that she had been placed on leave was shared by the head of the Texas Medical Board, Dr. Sherif Zaafran.

Aerial footage of Camp Mystic in Kerr County, Texas after the deadly flood. Picture: @chiproytx/X

A view inside of a cabin at Camp Mystic. Picture: Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP

The flooded Guadalupe River in Kerrville, Texas. Picture: Eric Vryn/Getty Images via AFP

The White House on Monday put the overall number of dead from the flooding at 91, while Texas Senator Ted Cruz told reporters that the toll was continuing to rise.

“Texas is grieving right now - the pain, the shock of what has transpired these last few days has broken the heart of our state,” Mr Cruz told reporters.

“The children, little girls, who were lost at Camp Mystic, that’s every parent’s nightmare.” Camps are a beloved tradition in the long US summer holidays, with children often staying in woods, parks and other rural areas.

Mr Cruz described them as a chance to make “lifetime friends - and then suddenly it turns to tragedy.”

Camp Mystic announced a heartbreaking update Monday saying 27 campers and counsellors were amon the dead in the devastating flash floods in Texas.

“Our hearts are broken alongside our families that are enduring this unimaginable tragedy. We are praying for them constantly,” the camp posted on its website. Camp officials said they’ve been in contact with local and state authorities “who are tirelessly deploying extensive resources to search for our missing girls.”

Blair and Brooke Harber, pictured left to righ, were among the victims who died in the floodst. Picture: RJ Harber/CNN

The all-girls Christian summer camp is located along the banks of the Guadalupe River, which surged more than 26 feet in less than an hour before dawn Friday. Kerr County officials had said Sunday night that they were still searching for several girls and one counsellor.

When asked on Sunday why the camps weren’t evacuated before the water level rose and despite the Texas Division of Emergency Management’s warning days earlier a storm like this could occur. Sheriff Larry Leitha and city manager Dalton Rice declined to comment, abruptly ending Sunday’s 10am press conference.

“That, that is a great question, but again, we want to make sure that we continue to focus. We still have 11 missing children that we want to get reunited with our families,” Mr Rice said.

Some 400 first responders from 20 agencies city, state and national are continuing the rescue operation in Kerr County, which saw the worst of the flash flooding along the river.

Helicopters and boats were taking part in the grim search across an area popular with tourists as well as summer camps.

Camp Mystic was a Christian camp where about 750 people had been staying when the floodwaters struck, which at one point saw the river swell by eight metres in just 45 minutes.

Virginia Hollis was among the children staying at Camp Mystic.

Kellyanne Lytal was among the children staying at Camp Mystic.

Lainey Landry was among the children staying at Camp Mystic.

Hadley Hannah was among the children staying at Camp Mystic.

Surviving children were evacuated from the camp.

In a terrifying display of nature’s power, the rain-swollen waters of the Guadalupe River reached treetops and the roofs of cabins as girls at the camp slept.

Blankets, teddy bears and other belongings were caked in mud. Windows in the cabins were shattered, apparently by the force of the water.

Months’ worth of rain fell in a matter of hours on Thursday night into Friday, and rain has continued in bouts since then.

Teacher Jeff Wilson (left) was also killed in the floods. Picture: Facebook

Flash floods, which occur when the ground is unable to absorb torrential rainfall, are not unusual in this region of south and central Texas, known colloquially as “Flash Flood Alley.” Human-driven climate change has made extreme weather events such as floods, droughts and heat waves more frequent and more intense in recent years.

Renee Smajstrla died in the floods, according to her uncle.

Janie Hunt also died in the floods, according to a report.

“She will live on in our hearts forever!” Sarah Marsh’s grandmother wrote on Facebook after the 8-year-old was found dead. “We love you so much sweet Sarah!”

Lila’s family confirmed her death in a statement in which they described suffering “unimaginable grief,” according to NBC News.

“The camp was completely destroyed,” Elinor Lester, 13, one of the evacuated campers, told The Associated Press.

“A helicopter landed and started taking people away. It was really scary.”

The family of Mystic’s director, Dick Eastland, confirmed he heroically died while trying to save the young girls from the storm.

Mr Eastland raced to one of the camp’s 23 cabins when the floodwater swept it away early Friday morning, Channel2Now reported. He had been involved with the private all-girls Christian camp since purchasing it in 1974 with his wife Tweety. His nephew confirmed his death via Facebook.

Reece and Paula Zunker were killed in the devastating Texas floods over the weekend.

Dick Eastland died trying to save some of the girls at his camp. Picture: Camp Mystic

Former camper Paige Sumner said Mr Eastland and “was the father figure to all of us while we were away from home at Camp Mystic for six weeks”.

“He was the father of four amazing boys, but he had hundreds of girls each term who looked up to him like a dad,” she wrote. “I would never have taken a fishing class if it wasn’t taught by my new friend Dick.”

Harrowing photographs showed the damage wrought by the floodwaters, which reached the middle of the windows of the cabins where the girls slept, and higher than the bunk beds.

Entire walls were ripped off the buildings, trees uprooted and the girls’ belongings tossed into shrubbery.

Emergency responders searching along the river. Picture: Christopher Lee/The San Antonio Express-News via AP

A Black Hawk helicopter searching for anyone in need of help. Picture: Eric Vryn/Getty Images via AFP

The National Weather Service first issued a flash flood watch at 1.18pm on Thursday estimating up to seven inches of rising water.

At 1.14am, a “life threatening” flash flood warning was issued for about 30,000 people, the Texas Tribune reported.

Grilled about the suddenness of the flooding overnight and why more precautions weren’t taken, Judge Rob Kelly, the chief elected official in Kerr County, told reporters “we do not have a warning system” and that “we didn’t know this flood was coming”.

“Rest assured, no one knew this kind of flood was coming,” he said. “We have floods all the time. This is the most dangerous river valley in the United States.”

A man surveys damage left by the floodwaters. Picture: Eric Gray/AP

And two employees from a campervan park look over the area from which dozens of trailers had been swept away. Picture: Michel Fortier/The San Antonio Express-News via AP

In a post on Truth Social on Saturday, Mr Trump said the federal government was working with state and local officials in response to the “tragic flooding”.

“Our Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, will be there shortly,” he wrote.

“Melania and I are praying for all of the families impacted by this horrible tragedy. Our Brave First Responders are on site doing what they do best. GOD BLESS THE FAMILIES, AND GOD BLESS TEXAS!”

Meanwhile, officials are warning residents of the area to continue being vigilant.

“The rain has let up, but we know there’s another wave coming,” Mr Martin said, adding that more rain would be hitting areas around the cities San Antonio and Austin.

Forecasters issued a flood warning for one county, urging those living near the Guadalupe River to “move to higher ground”.

Flash floods, which occur when the ground is unable to absorb torrential rainfall, are not unusual in the region.

– with AFP, NY Post and Fox News

Originally published as Texas flood death toll passes 90, 11 girls, one counsellor still missing