Land Search Ending For 2 Children In Bucks Co. Fatal Flood

Updated: 3:20 p.m. Tuesday

UPPER MAKEFIELD TOWNSHIP, PA —Search operations will move underwater for two missing children who were swept away from Saturday's flash flood that claimed the lives of five people, including the children's mother, authorities said Tuesday afternoon.

Upper Makefield Township Volunteer Fire Company Chief Tim Brewer said that the search for 2-year-old Mattie and 9-month-old Conrad Sheils will still continue, but efforts will begin to focus underwater.

Brewer said that authorities searched the flood zone more than a dozen times and backtracked to cover 160 miles over 117 acres.

He said that if Tuesday concludes without finding the children, efforts will shift to dive teams and underwater assets in Houghs Creek.

"We will scale down for the land has been covered and it's all been tracked by GPS," said Brewer, who urged that people stay away from the flood zone since it's still an "active search," and that the search will not conclude until the two children are found.

Due to the search, the police department had announced that it is closing the following roads:

• Taylorsville Road will be closed from Route 532 to Mt. Eyre Road. Taylorsville Road is closed in Lower Makefield Township from Mt. Eyre to Route 295 due to storm damage.
• Mt. Eyre Road is closed at Walker Road. Motorists coming from Dolington Road will not be able to get any further than Walker Road.
• Route 532 between Wrightstown Road and Meadowview Drive is closed.
• River Road will be closed from Embarcation Drive to Mt. Eyre Road.

In all road closures, the only vehicles that will be permitted to pass will be residents who live within the closure area. Motorists will not be permitted to pass if they don’t reside within the closure. This includes bicyclists and pedestrians.

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.

Authorities widened their search efforts Monday, bringing in drones and dogs and expanding the search to the Delaware River.

Bucks County Coroner Meredith Buck released the names of the five flood victims Monday, including three from Newtown Township.

The police department said it also appreciates the "countless people" requesting to assist in search efforts.

"We sincerely appreciate that so many are willing to help us, but at this time, we are not recruiting any volunteers from the community. If that should change, we will let you know. We cannot thank you all enough for your willingness to help," the police department said.

"Finally, we ask that you please keep all the families in your thoughts and prayers and pray that we can find Mattie and Conrad and bring them home to their families," the police department said. "We are so appreciative of your support and know that all your words of encouragement, your empathy, your understanding, and your patience have not gone unnoticed. Thank you for standing with us and the families during this terrible tragedy."

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