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The search for two missing children swept away during severe flash flooding on Saturday evening continued on Monday morning with additional resources in Upper Makefield Township, Pennsylvania. Upper Makefield Fire Chief Tim Brewer said during a press conference that they were able to deploy additional search crews due to improved weather conditions.
At least five people died following the flash flooding Saturday evening, which occurred when a storm unleashed 6–7 inches of rain over the course of about two hours. The floodwaters overwhelmed a local creek and quickly turned a stretch of roadway into a raging river, trapping a number of motorists in the process. The missing children were part of a family that was visiting the area from Charleston, South Carolina. On Sunday afternoon, local law enforcement confirmed that the children’s mother was one of the victims. The children’s father and 4-year-old brother survived, as did their grandmother who was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
This image shows flooded Route 532 just east of Meadowview Drive and before Stonebridge Crossing Road in Upper Makefield Township, Pennsylvania, near where several cars became trapped Saturday evening.
Following the flooding in Madison, New Hampshire, extreme meteorologist Reed Timmer sent his drone up to record the extent of the damage the rushing waters had dealt to the city. The footage shows a pickup truck caked in a few feet of sediment from road washout. It was parked next to a home that escaped the sediment reaching past the front porch. However, it’s unknown if the flooding did any damage to the foundation. The rushing water was enough to fracture at least one of the city’s roads, and farther down, it appeared more like a river than a roadway.
Up and down the Eastern Seaboard, cities such as Boston, New York and Philadelphia have seen drier conditions this morning, as rain moves off to the northeast. While this is a welcome break in the rain, river flooding still persists in parts of the Northeast.
In Hartford, Connecticut, the Connecticut River remains above flood stage. The river level is currently at 18.26 feet, with flood stage beginning at 16 feet. Waters are likely to remain near this level for most of this week. Elsewhere, other observation sites are reporting flooding in Connecticut, Rhode Island and New Hampshire.
Additionally, more showers and storms are in the forecast on Tuesday. As Mother Nature has recently shown, just an hour or two of especially heavy rain can lead to major flooding problems.
If you or someone you know was impacted by severe weather, the task of filing a claim may seem daunting, but there are ways to make the process easier. When your property is damaged from a storm, document the damage by taking photos. Make sure to keep all receipts if you perform temporary repairs so you can have record for reimbursement, according to KTBS. It is also important to not pay anything up front and get everything in writing. Another tip is to be cautious of people going door-to-door who may be trying to capitalize from the severe weather.
Flooding is among the most common and devastating natural hazards on Earth and in the U.S., and floods hold the title as the deadliest weather-related killer, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). There are six steps you can take to ensure the safety of your family and belongings if a flood hits your area.
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Find out if your area is prone to flooding. This will give you better time to prepare your home if you are in a flood prone zone.
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Check your flood insurance coverage. In a typical-sized home, just 1 inch of floodwater can set you back $20,000 in damage.
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Place valuables up on higher surfaces so in the event of a flood, less damage occurs.
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Protect important documents, photos, vital medical supplies in a waterproof case. Don’t forget to bring those essential items along with you if you leave.
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Empty your refrigerator and leave the doors open to avoid damage or loss if it floats.
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Prevent sewage backflow by placing sandbags in your toilet bowl and over drains. You’ll want to shut off the power, gas and water at the source.
Another episode of smoky skies and unhealthy air quality is possible in the Northeast in the wake of the flooding rain due to Canadian wildfires. On Sunday afternoon, NOAA’s GOES-EAST weather satellite took a snapshot of the flooding thunderstorms from Virginia to Maine, while widespread wildfire smoke could be seen over the Midwest. The wind is carrying the smoke eastward and will likely arrive in the Northeast during the start of the new week. People cleaning up after the flash flooding are encouraged to check the air quality before spending prolonged periods outdoors.
A satellite image of the Northeast and Midwest on Sunday, July 16, 2023. Thunderstorms were producing flash flooding over the Northeast, while wildfire smoke was causing unhealthy air quality over parts of the Midwest. (NOAA/GOES-EAST)
Over half of all flood-related drownings occur when a vehicle is driven into dangerous floodwaters, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If you come across a flooded roadway, it is important to Turn Around, Don’t Drown! ® Just one foot of moving water is enough to sweep away your vehicle. While you should avoid driving into flooded roadways, if you happen to find yourself trapped in your car in fasting moving water the most important thing to remember to do is to stay calm. According to Car.com, here are a few other things to remember:
• Turn on your headlights and hazard lights to make it easier for emergency personnel to locate you.
• Unbuckle your seat belt and unlock your doors.
• Take your jacket and outer clothing off.
• If you can open your windows, do so slowly, climb out, move to higher ground and call 911.
• If you can’t open your windows, you’ll have to open your doors. To do so, you must first equalize the water pressure inside your car to match the outside. This will require water to enter the car and fill up to about neck level. Once the doors are open, swim safely to land and call 911.
Power outages can occur as a result of severe weather, making preparing for them a vital part of severe weather preparations.It could take hours, days or even weeks for power to be restored after a severe weather event. A general rule of thumb is a family should have enough supplies to last at least 72 hours after a power outage, including non-perishable food and bottled water. Make sure to keep extra batteries for flashlights and emergency radios. Remember to prepare for any temperature by buying blankets, sweatshirts and battery-powered fans. Having rechargeable and portable batteries can also help you to survive long-term power outages so phones can remain charged for emergency contact between loved ones and urgent services.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency for the state on Sunday due to severe weather. Murphy said in a tweet that the state was hit by hazardous weather conditions including intense rainfall, flash flooding and dangerous winds. There was a report of vehicles stuck near New Brunswick, New Jersey, due to flooding on Sunday afternoon. In Edison, New Jersey, the right lane of Interstate 287 southbound north of exit 1 was closed due to flooding.
The death toll of the Bucks County flooding is now five after another body was recovered from the area. The bodies of two women and one man were found Saturday night in Bucks County. On Sunday, two additional bodies were found. On Saturday, seven people were reported missing in floodwaters after their vehicle was caught in the rising water. Two of those -- a father and his 4-year-old son -- escaped to safety. The mother and grandmother were swept away by the floodwaters, the grandmother survived but the mother was confirmed deceased Saturday evening. The two children remain missing as of Sunday evening, according to Upper Makefield Township Police Department.
Several airports across the Northeast each surpassed 200 flight cancellations as flooding downpours impacted the area. Overall, the cancellations at four major airports totaled 1,264 flights. Newark Liberty Airport, located in Newark, New Jersey, led the entire world in flight cancellations with 367 to and from the airport as of Sunday evening, according to FlightAware. Another 484 flights to and from the airport were delayed as the severe weather slammed the Northeast. In New York City, John F. Kennedy Airport had 342 flight cancellations to and from the airport. LaGuardia Airport, also in New York City, and Boston Logan International Airport each exceeded 200 flight cancellations as well Sunday evening.
The National Weather Service office in Burlington, Vermont, warned of the possibility of additional landslides amid the recent rounds of heavy rainfall in the area. The warning comes a few days after a landslidedestroyed one home in Ripton and impacted over a dozen others on Friday, prompting the evacuation of homeowners, according to NBC5. A thunderstorm had unleashed a deluge of rainfall that day, with radar estimates between 3-3.5 inches falling over the Ripton area. Intense and prolonged rainfall can often trigger landslides and debris flows.
A “very dangerous day” is unfolding across southern New England as numerous flash flood warnings cover the area. “Rainfall rates could even exceed 3 inches per hour today here across southern New England,” extreme meteorologist Reed Timmer said, adding that there was a life-threatening tag on the flash flooding from Manchester up to Concord in New Hampshire. Timmer associated the danger in southern New England from flash floods to the tropical aspect of the rainfall.
“You definitely want to turn around, don’t drown, today if you encounter any of those flash floods on the road surfaces,” Timmer warned. “It doesn’t take much to move your vehicle, probably only about six inches or a foot of rapidly flowing water, and it could definitely transport your vehicle downstream and you could find yourself in a very life-threatening situation then.”
On Sunday afternoon, the Upper Makefield Township Police Department said first responders had recovered the body of one of four people who were reported missing after thunderstorms produced deadly flash flooding in the Philadelphia area Saturday evening. The storms dropped an astounding 6–7 inches of rain over the course of a two-hour span.
“Search teams have been working tirelessly through very difficult terrain all morning and this effort will continue through the afternoon and evening. Their efforts have lead to the recovery of one of the missing people who unfortunately was found deceased. We are in the process of confirming their identity and notifying their family, the police department said in a Facebook post.
Recovery efforts are ongoing to find the bodies of the three remaining individuals. The three missing persons are said to be a 9-month-old boy, his 2-year-old sister and an adult female, according to law enforcement officials.
Rainfall of several inches in the past week across the Northeast could mean flooding becomes even more prevalent in the coming days. Persistent downpours in areas like the Hudson Valley in New York and high elevations in Vermont meant even higher amounts of rainfall. AccuWeather Meteorologist Renee Duff said the risk of new or worsening flooding in these areas is high, particularly in the beginning of the week. “The latest round of heavy rain cannot soak into the soil because of the saturated state of the ground,” Duff said. While Duff said the surge of moisture causing the rain should give way by Monday, downpours may return by the middle of the week.
Thunderstorms halted operations at several airports Sunday afternoon. Ground stops were in effect at La Guardia, JFK International and Long Island MacArthur airports in New York, Newark International in New Jersey and Boston Logan International in Massachusetts Sunday afternoon as thunderstorms threatened the area. Nearly 800 flights had been canceled out of JFK, Newark and Boston Logan airports as of Sunday afternoon with roughly another 900 delayed, according to FlightAware.com.
A NASCAR Cup Series race in Loudon, New Hampshire, was postponed due to the storms inundating the Northeast, according to NASCAR. The Crayon 301 race was originally scheduled for Sunday afternoon and will now be held at noon on Monday. The area was under a flash flood warning, areal flood watch and a tornado watch as of early Sunday afternoon, with the tornado watch expiring at 3 p.m. EDT, a half hour after the race was originally supposed to begin. The flash flood warning is set to expire at 6 p.m. EDT Sunday and the areal flood watch at 6 a.m. EDT Monday.
John Basher, of Buffalo, N.Y., carries an umbrella while walking on the rain-soaked race track, Sunday, July 16, 2023, at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, in Loudon, N.H. Sunday's Crayon 301 NASCAR Cup Series race has been postponed until Monday, July 17, 2023, due to inclement weather, officials said Sunday. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Over 700 flights to and from three airports in the Northeast have been canceled, according to FlightAware.com. The majority of the cancellations were at Newark Liberty International in New Jersey where 333 flights were canceled, followed by 236 flights at John F. Kennedy International in New York. Another 135 were canceled at Boston Logan International in Massachusetts. Delays at the three airports had risen to 654 flights by Sunday late morning. The cancellations and delays come as storms slam the Northeast, unleashing heavy downpours and triggering aerial flood watches near the listed airports. Tornado watches have also been issued for neighboring counties.
(Nam Y. Huh/AP)
At least three people died Saturday night when they were swept away by torrential floodwaters in Bucks County in suburban Philadelphia, and emergency crews continued searching for four others who remained missing on Sunday, according to authorities.
"Our area was hit with a torrential rainstorm" that caused flash flooding in several areas throughout the township, Upper Makefield Township police said Sunday morning. “The flash flooding caught numerous motorists by surprise and many were trapped."
The bodies of two women and one man were found in the area of Washington Crossing, part of Upper Makefield Township in Bucks County, about 30 minutes north of Center City Philadelphia. Those missing include three females and a male and range in age from 9 months old to 63-years-old, Upper Makefield Fire Chief Tim Brewer said during a morning press conference Sunday, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported.
Officials said about 6-7 inches of rain fell in a two-hour time period across Bucks County Saturday evening. Flash flood warnings and flood advisories are in effect for much of the Northeast Sunday.
With severe weather in the forecast, it is important to understand and prepare for the risks that are inbound. Here are five tips that can help you and your family prepare in advance:
• Shelter safety: What to look for: It is important to make sure the storm shelter is safe and provides an escape if the door is blocked by potential debris.
• Access to shelter and supplies: Having a storm shelter that cannot be accessed effectively defeats the purpose of having one at all. Shelters should be as easily accessible as possible.
• Security and restoration planning: If doors and windows are shattered and missing, securing the property quickly is essential. Making sure the property is structurally sound and having a repair company in mind should be planned before the severe weather.
• Insurance and financial protection: Consumers should look at the types of disasters their area may be prone to, to determine if they have the proper coverage in place.
• Protecting irreplaceable property with sentimental value: Some items may never be able to be replaced after a disaster. For these items, it is a good idea to take preventative measures to protect personal possessions that hold sentimental value.
Knowing when severe weather is approaching can be life-saving information, especially during a severe weather outbreak, like what is unfolding over the Northeast Sunday. One of the easiest ways to receive severe weather alerts, such as tornado warnings, is by having the free AccuWeather App on your smartphone. Unlock advanced, hyperlocal severe weather alerts when you subscribe to Premium+ on the AccuWeather app, which also provides an ad-free experience. AccuWeather Alerts™ are prompted by our expert meteorologists who monitor and analyze dangerous weather risks 24/7 to keep you and your family safer. These custom alerts can provide critical time to seek shelter before damaging weather moves into the area. Watching the AccuWeather Network and monitoring AccuWeather’s website are two other ways to stay updated with the latest weather information.
