‘Unthinkable Nightmare': Fundraiser Launched For Victims Of Bucks Co. Floods

UPPER MAKEFIELD TOWNSHIP, PA —A GoFundMe page has been launched for donations to the family whose two children remain missing and whose mother is among the deceased from Saturday's flash flooding.

The page was created Monday by Amanda Breckenridge on behalf of James Sheils, the father of the two missing children: a 9-month-old boy and his 2-year-old sister.

Authorities have widened their search efforts to find Matilda (Mattie) Sheils and Conrad Sheils.

The family was visiting in Newtown from South Carolina and was heading to a barbecue when the raging floodwaters separated them, authorities said.

James Sheils was able to grab the couple's 4-year-old son and flee to safety along with the children's grandmother. The identities of the two missing children were revealed by the family on Monday.

The children's 32-year-old mother, Katie Seley, was among five confirmed dead by Bucks County Coroner Meredith Buck on Monday.

The GoFundMe page asks people to "please consider donating to the Sheils family as they were tragically impacted by the Pennsylvania flash flood on July 15."

So far, more than $45,000 has been raised with more than 400 donations on a $10,000 goal on the page.

"As some of you may know, our family suffered a terrible tragedy this weekend. On Saturday evening, while driving to our parent's house for a BBQ, my brother, Jim, his fiance, Katie, Katie's mother, and Jim and Katie's three children were caught in a sudden flash flood," Erin Sheils Ellis said on the GoFundMe page. "Miraculously, Jim and his oldest son, Jack, survived, as did Katie's mother, Dahlia. Unfortunately, Katie did not survive, and their two children are still missing. As you can imagine, we are completely devastated by this unthinkable nightmare."

At an Upper Makefield Township press conference Monday afternoon, family representative Scott Ellis provided a statement:

"First, our family would like to extend our deepest gratitude for the enormous efforts of so many emergency personnel who have been working tirelessly, in dangerous and difficult conditions, to rescue the victims of this horrific tragedy," Ellis said. "Their compassion, kindness, and bravery have given us strength in this unspeakably difficult time, and their commitment to bringing Conrad and Mattie home is unwavering. We are thankful that they were able to save so many affected by these unprecedented floods, and we are grateful that they were able to recover many who have been lost. We are, of course, also thankful that Jim, Katie and Jim's oldest son, Jack, and Katie's mother, Dahlia somehow managed to survive."

Ellis thanked the community for their "incredible outpouring of support, love, prayers, and kindness."

He said that the family is requesting privacy and space for themselves and their friends and that no other statements would be provided by the family going forward.

"As you can imagine, we are utterly devastated by the incredible loss our family has suffered," Ellis said.

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 with the flood victims getting swept away in Houghs Creek.

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(Photo Courtesy of the Upper Makefield Township Police Department and the Sheils family.)