UPPER MAKEFIELD – The search for people swept away in raging floodwaters Saturday continued late into the night before resuming early Sunday.
As of Sunday morning at least three people are confirmed dead, Bucks County Coroner Meredith Buck confirmed.
It was unclear early Sunday how many people are still unaccounted for or considered missing, but officials said they were looking for at least four people.
Flash floods hit the 1000 block of Washington Crossing Road between Stonebridge Crossing and Wrightstown roads after six to seven inches of rain fell within an hour Saturday evening, explained Upper Makefield Fire Chief Tim Brewer.
The floods swept away about a dozen vehicles, he said.
Approximately 150 rescuers searched for people from the Delaware River to the flood site along Route 532. Rescue crews saved eight people from cars and two from the creek.
On Sunday, 100 people were assisting with search operations.
“Search and rescue are physically walking the creek banks where accessible,” Brewer said. “This is a very inaccessible area to the township. There are steep cliffs on both sides and in some areas, there is no direct access to the creek … so we are physically walking.”
Fatal floding:At least three dead in Bucks County as water rescues continue following massive rains
Flooding victims:Who are the victims in the Delaware River flooding?
How many people died in the flood near the Delaware River?
The fatal flooding came quickly Saturday evening, with several inches of rain falling in just a few short hours.
“The worse of which occurred along Route 532 in the area of Stonebridge Crossing Road between Aqueduct Road and Wrightstown Road. The flash flooding caught numerous motorists by surprise and many were trapped,” the Upper Makefield Police Department wrote in an online update Sunday just after 6 a.m.
While crews were able to rescue one woman, police confirmed three died when a “torrential rainstorm … caused flash flooding along several areas throughout the township.”
“Today, the search efforts will continue as we have 3-4 people who are still unaccounted for. We ask that you avoid this area,” police said Sunday morning.
What happened in Bucks County when the Delaware River flooded?
Brewer said Sunday about six to seven inches of rain fell in less than an hour Saturday evening near Houghs Creek, resulting in flash flooding.
He said roughly a dozen cars were on a stretch of Washington Crossing Road between Stonebridge crossing and Wrightstown roads when floodwaters swept across.
“Three were confirmed swept away,” he said.
An intense, three-hour period of precipitation dumped up to six inches of rain on the area Saturday evening. As the rain fell, creeks, streams and inlets swelled, pushing floodwaters onto roadways and catching drivers in deep, fast-moving floods.
What happened Saturday night?
First responders, water rescue teams, police and fire departments and emergency response personnel worked through the night Saturday into Sunday, continuing to make water rescues and search for missing people and possible victims.
An incident command center set up at Washington Crossing United Methodist Church on Wrightstown Road has served as the operational hub since early Saturday evening.
“Bucks County has activated the Emergency Operations Center to provide resources and support,” county spokesman Eric Nagy said.
First responders and marine rescue units from agencies throughout Bucks County were on scene at the command center through the night.
How much rain fell in Bucks County?
A heavy burst of rain slammed into Bucks County around 5 p.m. dropping between three and six inches in parts of Bucks County before ending at 7 p.m. Saturday, said meteorologist Eric Hoeflich of the National Weather Service in Mount Holly.
Overnight more downpours complicated search and rescue efforts.
More heavy rain and flash flooding in the Philadelphia region is possible Sunday, according to the National Weather Service in Mount Holly, New Jersey. Flooding has already been reported early Sunday in northern New Jersey and Northampton County, Hoeflich said Sunday morning.
Where in Bucks County did the Delaware River flood?
Saturday’s torrential downpours focused tightly on the corridor between Newtown and New Hope and as far west as Jamison and continued into Mercer County, New Jersey, Hoeflich said. The ground, already saturated from recent rains, could not take the deluge leading to overrunning of normally small creeks, Hoeflich said.
Calls for marine rescues were numerous Saturday evening, with cars being swept off roadways and motorists stranded in floodwaters.
As of Sunday morning, Taylorsville Road from Route 532 to Route 295 is closed, River Road by Francisco’s restaurant is closed, and River Road between Route 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,” the police wrote.
“We are treating this as a rescue, but we are fairly certain we are in a recovery mode at this time,” Brewer said.
