Fatal Bucks Co. Flooding: Death Toll Rises To 5 (UPDATES)

Updated: 4:52 p.m. Sunday

UPPER MAKEFIELD TOWNSHIP, PA —Two children remain missing as the death toll following flash flooding from a fast-moving storm and torrential downpours that drenched the Washington Crossing area has risen to five people, authorities said Sunday afternoon.

With Gov. Josh Shapiro in attendance at a township press conference, authorities said they recovered the body of a woman 100 yards from where another body had been recovered Sunday morning in a creek one mile south of Taylorsville Road.

Authorities are not releasing the names and identities of the victims until families can be notified.

Two children —a 9-month-old boy and his 2-year-old sister —are still missing, Upper Makefield Township Volunteer Fire Company Chief Tim Brewer said at a press conference Sunday.

Brewer said search efforts will continue into the evening and Monday.

"We have never seen anything like this before," he said. We will continue to look for the two children. Our commitment is unwavering. We are all grieving."

Brewer said authorities have been in contact with the family.

He said a family from Charleston, S.C., was visiting family and friends and on their way to a barbecue when the storm hit.

The father took the family's 4-year-old son while the mother and grandmother took the two other children. The father and child were able to get to safety. Brewer said the grandmother survived, but the mother is among the dead.

"We can't imagine what they are going through," he said.

Bucks County Coroner Meredith Buck said that three people —a man and two women —were confirmed dead Saturday night from the flooding, which overflowed creeks and had motorists stranding their vehicles on numerous roads. Flood damage and road closures extended to roads in nearby Lower Makefield Township.

"This is a devastating blow to this Bucks County community," Shapiro said. "We are all here. This is a moment for all of us to come together. The 13 million people in Pennsylvania are here with you and praying with you."

Shapiro brought with him the FEMA director and PennDOT director Michael Carroll. The governor said PennDOT will evaluate Route 532 to ensure that it is operable.

"All hands are on deck," Shapiro said. "We will be here as long as it takes."

The Upper Makefield Police Department said Sunday that the area was hit with a torrential rainstorm, which caused flash flooding along several areas throughout the township.

The worst of the flooding occurred along Rt. 532 in the area of Stonebridge Crossing Road between Aqueduct Road and Wrightstown Road.

Police said the flash flooding caught numerous motorists by surprise and many were trapped.

"It is with great sorrow that we regretfully announce that three people who were swept away by the flood waters were found deceased," the police department said in a Facebook post. "Our thoughts and prayers are with their families and friends as they go through unimaginable grief."

Police and fire were able to rescue one woman who was trapped in her vehicle.

Upper Makefield Township Police provided a further update just after noon Sunday, saying that search teams have been working tirelessly through very difficult terrain all morning and their efforts will continue through the afternoon and evening.

"We truly appreciate the outpouring of support and concern for the families of this tragedy, our emergency personnel, and our community as a whole," police said in a Facebook post. "We cannot fathom the grief these families are experiencing and we will do everything we can to assist them during this extremely difficult time."

Township authorities thanked agencies, resources, and personnel from Bucks and Montgomery counties and New Jersey who answered for assistance for their dedication and professionalism.

Police also said that anyone in the township who has experienced damage to their property or business should call the township Monday about the damages. The township's phone number is 215-968-3340.

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As for the roadways, Taylorsville Road from Rt. 532 to Rt. 295 is closed, River Road by Francisco’s is closed, and River Road between Rt. 532 and Mt. Eyre Road is closed.

"If you are driving in and around the township, please be careful as there is a lot of debris on the roadways," police said. "We also ask that you keep those families who lost loved ones in your thoughts and prayers."

About 6-7 inches of rain fell in the area Saturday afternoon with Emergency Alerts of Southeastern Pennsylvania reporting on its Facebook page that multiple people and vehicles were swept away by floodwaters down flooded creeks and into the Delaware River.

Emergency Alerts reported that there were water rescues in the 1000 block of Washington Crossing Road and multiple people were hanging onto trees with two others trapped in a vehicle in flood waters.