Credit: Tom Sofield/NewtownPANow.com
Authorities announced late Sunday afternoon that they had recovered the body of a fifth person who was swept away in Saturday evening’s severe flooding.
Upper Makefied Township Volunteer Fire Company Chief Tim Brewer told reporters the body was found Sunday afternoon amid the intense search effort that involved approximately 100 personnel from Bucks County, Montgomery County, Philadelphia, and New Jersey.
Brewer called the news “absolutely devastating.”
One of the bodies recovered belonged to the mother of the two children – a 2-year-old girl and her 9-month-old brother.
“We are not going to give up,” Brewer said.
“Our commitment to finding the two children is unwavering and we will do everything we can to bring them home,” the chief said.
The deaths occurred during severe flash flooding in the 1000 block of Washington Crossing Road (Route 532). The flooding was first reported around 6 p.m. on Saturday as a storm dropped 6 to 7 inches of rain on Lower and Upper Makefield townships.
The Bucks County Coroner’s Office was working Sunday evening to contact the families of the deceased before releasing names.
The vehicle with the children in it was among 11 vehicles stuck in the flash flooding.
The family with the kids was from Charleston, South Carolina and in Bucks County for a family BBQ. There were the two kids who are now missing, a 4-year-old boy, a mother and father, a grandmother.
The body of the mother has been recovered, but two of her children have not. The father and the 4-year-old son, were able to get away from the flooding. The grandmother was swept away and was then rescued.
Brewer said the surviving members of the family are grateful for everyones’ prayers.
Rescue crews plan to keep searching for the kids and will be back out on Monday.
Gov. Josh Shapiro visited the scene and told reporters the incident was “devastating.”
The governor said the area is in the thoughts of all Pennsylvanians.
“We are praying with you. We will continue to do everything in our power to lift you up,” Shapiro said, adding emergency crews deserve praise for their efforts.
“They made sure others were kept safe in a really challenging situation,” Shapiro said.
PennDOT and the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency were working with Upper Makefield Township and Bucks County officials on the recovery efforts.
