Search intensifies for missing children swept away by Bucks County flash floods
UPPER MAKEFIELD TOWNSHIP, Pa. (CBS) -- Search efforts are intensifying in Bucks County for a toddler and her baby brother who were swept away by flash floods over the weekend. Five other people were killed during Saturday's severe weather.
Rescue teams have ramped up their search, turning to sonar technology, aerial surveillance and rescue dogs to try to track down the two missing kids, 2-year-old Matilda Sheils and 9-month-old Conrad Sheils. There's still been no sign of the siblings.
The children's family was on their way to a BBQ when their car was caught in the sudden and powerful waters. Their father, grandmother, and 4-year-old brother were able to get to safety but their mother is one of five people who drowned.
Rescue crews had to scale back their search efforts overnight for safety reasons, but were back out in full force Tuesday morning, this time with the help of additional crews coming from Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
They say they will not stop searching until the two children are found.
Fire Chief Tim Brewer says teams have searched the entire mile-and-a-half flood zone more than a dozen times.
"The tracking logs are over 160 miles, meaning we have backtracked several times," Brewer said.
But search and rescue officials say they could be changing tactics soon.
Brewer said if crews don't find anything Tuesday night, they'll shift their focus to a dive rescue operation.
"That will mean underwater assets mainly in the creek and we will work out from there," Brewer said.
But even with a change of tactics, Brewer stressed the mission remains the same.
"We'll continue to do so until we find what we're looking for, which is our two missing angels," Brewer said.
Officials on Tuesday also thanked the community for the outpouring of support for first responders and the families of the victims.
During a news conference Monday, officials identified five victims who drowned Saturday after sudden flash flooding from Hughes Creek rushed onto Washington Crossing Road, trapping at least 11 cars in an instant.
Search teams recovered the bodies of 78-year-old Enzo Depiero and 74-year-old Linda Depiero, along with 53-year-old Susan Barnhart, 64-year-old Yuko Love and 32-year-old Katheryn "Katie" Seley.
Seley and her family live in South Carolina but were visiting relatives when the water surged.
Officials say they did not drive into the high water but rather were caught by it and became trapped.
The children's uncle addressed the media Monday.
"The compassion, kindness and bravery have given us strength in this unspeakably difficult time," Scott Ellis said. "And their commitment to bringing Conrad and Mattie home is unwavering."
A vigil will be held Thursday at Washington Crossing United Methodist church starting at 7 p.m.
