Multiple fatalities have been reported as heavy rain and flash flooding struck parts of the Northeastern United States over the weekend. Suburban Pennsylvania was hit particularly hard, with five people confirmed dead in flash flooding on Saturday evening. Just six days prior, a woman lost her life in upstate New York while attempting to evacuate her home during the mass flooding that swept through the region. The devastating effects of the extreme weather were also felt in Vermont.

During a Sunday afternoon press conference, officials revealed that the victims of the flash flooding in Pennsylvania included two adult women and one adult man. They were found outside of their cars in an area where the water level was five feet above ground. The flooding occurred about 30 minutes north of Philadelphia, near Houghs Creek, a tributary in the Delaware River. The area experienced between six and seven inches of rainfall in less than an hour, resulting in the deadly flash flooding.

According to Tim Brewer, Chief of the Upper Makefield Fire Company, there were approximately eleven vehicles on the road when the flash flooding occurred. Of those vehicles, three were swept away by the flood. Eight people were rescued from their vehicles, while another two individuals were rescued from the nearby creek. Tragically, two people, a 9-month-old baby and a 2-year-old girl, remain missing. Their mother, who was driving, is among the deceased. The family hails from Charleston, South Carolina.

Search teams resumed their efforts to locate the missing individuals after halting operations at nightfall on Saturday. Three cars belonging to the deceased were found in the creek and recovered, with one car discovered approximately 1 1/2 miles downstream from where it entered the water. While authorities are treating the search for the missing individuals as a rescue effort, they believe it will likely become a recovery mission.

Elsewhere in the northeastern U.S., severe weather warnings were issued for flash floods and tornadoes. The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning for parts of Connecticut, including Danbury, Shelton, and Waterbury. The Storm Prediction Center also cautioned that there was a potential for brief tornadoes in portions of Connecticut, New York, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Massachusetts.

In response to the severe weather, New York City Emergency Management officials urged residents to be prepared for potential flash flooding. Showers and thunderstorms were forecasted to continue, potentially bringing up to five inches of rainfall to some areas. The National Weather Service advised the public to exercise caution and emphasized the elevated risk of flash flooding.

As the region grapples with the aftermath of heavy rain and flash flooding, recovery efforts are underway, and officials are urging residents to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions to ensure their safety. The impact of the extreme weather serves as a reminder of the devastating consequences of such events and the importance of preparedness in the face of natural disasters.