Bill Introduced To Rename Bucks County Post Office After Flood Victim

UPPER MAKEFIELD, PA — A bipartisan bill has been introduced in Washington, D.C., to rename the Washington Crossing Post Office after Susan Barnhart, who tragically lost her life in flooding that struck the Bucks County community in July.

The legislation has been put forward by Bucks County Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1), who represents the district where the post office is located, and New Jersey Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), who represents the district where Barnhart lived in New Jersey.

During her life, Barnhart touched countless lives, treasured the various outdoor activities that Bucks County and New Jersey has to offer, and worked in multiple capacities throughout the community, including at the Washington Crossing and Newtown U.S. Postal Service branches, said the lawmakers.

"Susan Barnhart was beloved in Bucks County and made various contributions to our community,” said Fitzpatrick. “The flooding that devastated parts of Bucks County this past July tragically took several members of our community from us, including Susan. I am honored to remember Susan’s lasting legacy through this bipartisan legislation, and I thank Congresswoman Watson Coleman for joining me.”

"Susan Barnhart was a model citizen who served with dedication and compassion. Her tragic passing has left a community in mourning," said Congresswoman Watson Coleman. "I'm grateful to Congressman Fitzpatrick for helping to honor Ms. Barnhart and I look forward to the Susan C. Barnhart Post Office standing as a symbol of her dedication to her community."

Lynda Barnhart, Susan's sister, added, “My sister was very well known in the community. She was the first person to help anyone she could, in any way she could. Susan has always done jobs working with people and was always very well-liked and truly dedicated to her work.”

Barnhart was among seven who died when flash flooding from a torrential rainstorm struck the township on July 15. The worst of the flooding occurred along Rt. 532 just to the west of Wrightstown Road where the road dips into a valley.

Police said the flash flooding caught numerous motorists by surprise and many were trapped
with the flood victims getting swept into Houghs Creek, a normally low-flow waterway that was turned into an angry torrent of water.

The flooding claimed the lives of Katie Seley, Mattie and Conrad Sheils of Charleston, South Carolina; Linda and Enzo DePiero of Newtown Township; Susan Barnhart of Titusville, New Jersey; and Yuko Love of Newtown Township.