Politics & Government
Bucks Co. Declares Disaster Emergency For Fatal Flooding
The Bucks County Commissioners issued the declaration after flash flooding claimed the lives of five people in Upper Makefield Township.
Updated: 4:01 p.m. Monday
DOYLESTOWN, PA —Bucks County has declared a disaster emergency in the wake of the flash flooding that has claimed the lives of at least five people in Upper Makefield Township over the weekend.
The Bucks County Commissioners —Chairman Bob Harvie and Commissioners Diane M. Ellis-Marseglia and Gene DiGirolamo —signed the Declaration of Disaster Emergency Monday morning, said Eric Nagy, the county's director of policy and communications.
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The declaration will be officially ratified retroactively Wednesday at the Board of Commissioners meeting.
The declaration states that a heavy rainstorm with severe flooding Saturday caused or threatened to cause injury, damage, and suffering to the persons and property of Bucks County and has endangered the health, safety, and welfare of a substantial number of persons residing in the county.
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It also threatens to create problems greater in scope than Bucks County may be able to resolve.
Since emergency management measures are required to reduce the severity of the disaster, commissioners declared the existence of a disaster emergency.
The search has expanded Monday for two missing children who were swept away during flash flooding over the weekend that claimed the lives of five people, authorities said.
“We send our heartfelt condolences to the families who lost loved ones in this terrible tragedy and express our deepest gratitude to the first responders whose heroic actions on Saturday prevented far greater loss of life. We continue to pray for the two missing children," the commissioners said in a joint statement.
"We would like to thank the numerous police, fire, and EMS personnel who responded swiftly and continue to work on the recovery efforts, especially Upper Makefield Township Fire Chief Tim Brewer, who has led coordination efforts. Along with assistance from fire departments from all over Bucks County, water rescue teams from Montgomery County, and PEMA we are truly grateful to have partners that immediately jumped into action," the statement continued.
The declaration states that county departments, in conjunction with the county's emergency management coordinator, may have to suspend such regulatory requirements deemed necessary to respond to the disaster emergency and conduct county business.
"We direct the Bucks County Emergency Management coordinator to coordinate the activities of the emergency response, to take all appropriate action needed to alleviate the effects of this disaster, to aid in the restoration of essential public services, and to take any other emergency response action deemed necessary to respond to this disaster emergency," the commissioners said in the declaration.
About six inches of rain fell in a fast-moving storm Saturday afternoon, flooding roads and sweeping away people into the raging floodwaters who had been caught in the deluge.
The Upper Makefield Police Department said 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.
Gov. Josh Shapiro toured the flood-ravaged region on Sunday with area politicians and emergency personnel.
U.S. Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick said Monday that once this search and rescue operation has been completed, his office will begin the preliminary FEMA process for residents who have suffered a financial impact from the flood. Please stay connected to our office, you can reach us at any time at 215-579-8102.
"With today’s Declaration of Disaster Emergency, we will ensure that the County will continue to provide any and all resources necessary to continue responding to this unprecedented weather event that has affected so many lives in and out of Bucks County,” the commissioners said.
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