Officials to pivot to underwater search for 2 missing children after Upper Makefield flood

The search for two missing children continues days after dangerous flash floods swept through Bucks County, claiming the lives of five people.

During a news conference Tuesday afternoon, Upper Makefield Fire Chief Tim Brewer said first responders have searched the 1 1/2-mile-long flood zone more than a dozen times.

“If today concludes with no discoveries, the focus of the search will shift from a land-based and creek-based to a dive rescue operation or a search and rescue operation,” Brewer said. “That will mean underwater assets mainly in the creek. And we will work out from there.”

Police identified the missing children as 2-year-old Matilda “Mattie” Sheils and 9-month-old Conrad Sheils. The children’s mother, 32-year-old Katie Sealy, was among the deceased, officials said.

Agencies from across Pennsylvania and New Jersey are assisting with the search and rescue operation.

“We ask that everybody stay away from the flood zone. It is still an active search. We still have assets operating in the area and will continue to do so until we find what we’re looking for, which obviously [is] our two missing angels,” Brewer said.

Upper Makefield Township police in a Facebook post acknowledged that “countless” people have come forward to assist with search efforts but “at this time, we are not recruiting any volunteers from the community.”

About 100 officials, as well as drones and cadaver dogs, are combing the area near the creek that drains into the Delaware River.

Police thanked residents for their outpouring of support during what they called a “terrible tragedy.” A GoFundMe for the Sheils family had raised more than $57,000 as of Tuesday morning.

The Sheils family had been visiting from Charleston, South Carolina.

The family’s father, Jim Sheils, was able to escape severe flooding with his 4-year-old son, but the mother, grandmother, and two missing children were swept away by floodwaters. The grandmother survived and was treated at a local hospital, police said.

The remaining flood victims were identified on Monday as Susan Barnhart, 53, Yuko Love, 64, Linda Depiero, 74, and Enzo Depiero, 78.

Bucks County coroner Meredith Buck confirmed that the cause of death for all five victims was accidental drowning.

A press conference on the search and rescue operation is slated for 3 p.m. Tuesday.

A community vigil is also set to take place at 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 20, at Washington Crossing United Methodist Church.

WHYY News’ Sophia Schmidt, Cory Sharber, and The Associated Press contributed reporting.