At least four people are dead and up to a dozen others are missing after flash flooding and several inches of rain battered southeastern Pennsylvania just outside of Philadelphia on Saturday night.
Officials said Bucks County in the center of the storm was falling about four inches of rain per hour around 5:30 p.m. Dean Iovino of the National Weather Service said more rain fell in two hours than the city of Las Vegas had in a year.
The flooding was so bad that cars already carrying people were inundated, resulting in her death and the disappearance of another family, according to county officials. At least one bridge was visibly dilapidated.
Two women and a man were found dead in the Washington Crossing area of Upper Makefield Township. The identity of the fourth dead person has not been released.
Officials in Upper Makefield said the remaining missing include a family of four, including a two-year-old and a nine-month-old.
At least four people are dead and up to a dozen others are missing after flash flooding and several inches of rain battered southeastern Pennsylvania just outside of Philadelphia on Saturday night
Bucks County Coroner Meredith Buck said the number is likely to increase.
“The death toll could go up,” she told the Philadelphia Inquirer. “Unfortunately, it’s only just beginning.”
“There’s a lot of water rescue going on right now.” “There’s a lot going on,” she added, with Iovino saying there may be as many as a dozen missing.
He noted that the county’s proximity to the Delaware River made it a “problem area” for flooding and that the flash flood was only concentrated on it.
At the height of the storm, neighboring law enforcement agencies said they were helping with a search and rescue operation for those missing in the flooding.
The police in Upper Makefield said in a Facebook post that large parts of the city had fallen victim to the floods.
“We apologize for not keeping you updated,” they wrote. “We were busy with search and rescue missions. “There are numerous places in the community that have been flooded.”
“If we can, we’ll update you. Until then, keep the families in your thoughts and prayers.”
Officials said Bucks County in the center of the storm was falling about four inches of rain per hour around 5:30 p.m. Dean Iovino of the National Weather Service said more rain fell in two hours than the city of Las Vegas had in a year
The flooding was so bad that cars already carrying people were inundated, resulting in her death and the disappearance of another family, according to county officials. At least one bridge was visibly dilapidated
Two women and a man were found dead in the Washington Crossing area of Upper Makefield Township. The identity of the fourth dead person has not been released
Officials in Upper Makefield said the remaining missing include a family of four, including a two-year-old and a nine-month-old
At the height of the storm, neighboring law enforcement agencies said they were helping with a search and rescue operation for those missing in the flooding
According to the state Department of Transportation, four state roads in Bucks County were closed due to the flooding.
A local resident, Nick Primola, told abc6 that he saw cars being washed away and driving upside down in the streets.
“I guess it was just lucky timing because the people who were there just 10 minutes earlier weren’t that lucky. They really had no warning and were involved,” he said.
“I’ve never seen anything like this so fast.” “I mean, this is an area that has a lot of waterways, so people are used to flooding, but I think that’s why it’s focused on this one sneaked in people who were driving,” Primola added.
Officials told Fox29 that roads are expected to be closed for an extended period.
According to the state Department of Transportation, four state roads in Bucks County were closed due to the flooding
Officials told reporters that roads are likely to be closed for an extended period
The police in Upper Makefield said in a Facebook post that large parts of the city had fallen victim to the floods
One expert noted that the county’s proximity to the Delaware River made it a “problem area” for flooding and the flash flooding was only concentrated there
Motorists are being urged to avoid the restricted areas until roads can be cleaned up and repaired.
The National Weather Service warns things could get worse as the entire region is under 24-hour flood surveillance on Sunday.
“With all this moisture, there’s nothing to eliminate,” Iovino said.