Tavia Hunt, wife of Kansas City Chiefs owner Clark Hunt, has confirmed the tragic death of a young family member in the devastating Texas floods that have claimed at least 82 lives so far, including 28 children.
“Our hearts are broken”
In a heartfelt Instagram post, Tavia revealed that their young cousin, Janie Hunt, was among the victims at Camp Mystic, a historic all-girls Christian summer camp on the Guadalupe River in Wimberley, Texas.
She was just 9 years old.
“Our hearts are broken by the devastation from the floods in Wimberley and the tragic loss of so many lives — including a precious little Hunt cousin, along with several friend’s little girls,” Tavia Hunt, wife of Chiefs owner Clark Hunt, shared in a heartbreaking Instagram post.
“How do we trust a God who is supposed to be good, all knowing and all powerful, but who allows such terrible things to happen — even to children?
“That is a sacred and tender question — and one the Bible doesn’t shy away from,” she continued. “Scripture is filled with the cries of those whose hearts have been shattered, who still wrestle to trust the same God they believe allowed the pain.”
Described as bright-eyed, full of life, and impossibly sweet, Janie was the great-granddaughter of billionaire oil tycoon William Herbert Hunt. He was brother to Lamar Hunt, the legendary founder of the Kansas City Chiefs and father of current team owner Clark Hunt.
750 campers were staying at the site
Camp Mystic was struck early Friday after the Guadalupe River surged up to 30 feet above its normal level. More than 750 campers were staying at the site when the floods hit. Officials say the younger girls, who slept in lower-lying cabins closer to the riverbank, were the most vulnerable. Many remain unaccounted for.
Among the dead is the camp’s beloved director, Richard “Dick” Eastland, 70, who reportedly died trying to save the girls as the floodwaters rose rapidly. Just a week before the tragedy, the camp had posted joyful videos of the children performing in a chorus and dance production.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott declared Sunday a statewide day of prayer and has vowed a full investigation into what went wrong. “For the lives lost, for those still missing, for the safety of first responders, we ask Texans to join us in prayer,” he said.
Emergency crews have rescued more than 850 people so far, some of whom were found clinging to trees. Search efforts are ongoing, with eight helicopters and a high-tech MQ-9 Reaper drone scanning the region for survivors.
But questions have emerged about the timing and effectiveness of the flood warnings. Although the National Weather Service issued a flood watch Thursday and a flash flood warning early Friday morning, local officials claim the alerts came too late to make a difference, especially in Kerr County, one of the hardest-hit areas.
“This wasn’t a forecasting failure,” meteorologist Matt Lanza told the Texas Tribune. “It was a breakdown in communication. The warnings didn’t get to people in time.”
Concerns have also been raised over federal preparedness. The Weather Service office responsible for the region was reportedly short-staffed following job cuts during the Trump administration. A key position (the warning coordination meteorologist) had been left vacant since April.
When asked whether the disaster response was hampered by federal cuts, President Donald Trump deflected. “That was really the Biden setup,” he said, before walking it back. “But I wouldn’t blame Biden either. This is a 100-year catastrophe.”
Meanwhile, the state’s emergency management agency continues to search for missing people, despite an internal estimate obtained by Daily Mail that predicts the final death toll may surpass 100.
As rescue operations continue, grieving families like the Hunts are left clinging to memories (and to faith) amid unimaginable loss.