Search teams from around Southeastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey returned to Upper Makefield Township on Monday morning to search for the two young children who remain missing after being swept away during flash flooding on Saturday.
Upper Makefield Township Volunteer Fire Company Chief Tim Brewer said the sunny weather on Monday allowed crews to expand their search efforts and triple the amount of personnel looking for the children.
If the childrens’ remains are not located by the end of Monday, crews will return to the scene on Tuesday.
Five adults died and have been recovered, while a 9-month-old boy and his 2-year-old sister remained missing as of Monday morning.
“We ask everyone to keep the families in their thoughts and prayers,” Brewer said.
A convoy of specialized search and rescue teams and equipment from around the state drove to the search area along Taylorsville Road and Washington Crossing Road (Route 532) early Monday. At least 20 trucks were in the convoy.
Bucks County Coroner Meredith Buck said her office was working to make sure families were notified before releasing the names of the victims.
Brewer said dive teams, drones, and K-9 units were being brought in. He noted that residents should be advised of the increased activity.
Upper Makefield Township police and firefighters were being assisted again Monday by agencies from around the region. The Bucks County Major Incident Response Team, a law enforcement force multiplier made up of officers, deputies, and rangers from around the county, remained in the township.
Credit: Tom Sofield/NewtownPANow.com
The flooding became severe in the 1000 block of Washington Crossing Road (Route 532) around 6 p.m. Saturday when a storm dropped 6 to 7 inches of rain that was concentrated on Lower and Upper Makefield townships.
Seven people, including the two kids, were killed in the flooding. Several people who were swept away ended up being rescued and survived.
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 was recovered, but two of her children have not been located. 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. She has been released from the hospital.
Officials have said 11 vehicles in total were trapped in the severe flooding that rushed down from the surrounding hillsides and the normally-tame Houghs Creek.
