Bucks Officials Seek State Of Emergency Declaration After Floods

BUCKS COUNTY, PA — Local officials have called on Governor Tom Wolf to declare Monday’s flash flooding an emergency disaster in Bensalem, Bristol Township, and Bristol Borough, and to allocate state resources to helping these communities.

These towns are estimated to have received up to 10 inches of rain Monday, following high humidity and thunderstorms that evening. The National Weather Service called this a 100-year flood event.

In their letter, State Senator Robert M. Tomlinson, State Representative Kathleen C. Tomlinson, State Representative Tina Davis, and State Representative John T. Galloway called for all state resources to be made available, to accelerate the disaster response process.

“This massive storm completely overwhelmed our communities,” they wrote. “Minutes of rain have resulted in millions of dollars of property damage and devastating losses from this storm.”

On social media, Tomlinson said that Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick had committed to providing any available federal resources to Bensalem.

“We are headed out into the community this afternoon to survey the damage; if you're in need of immediate assistance or may know someone in need of help, please do not hesitate to call our office at 215-579-8102,” Fitzpatrick wrote online.

More than 60 residents were evacuated from Lafayette Gardens, a Bensalem condominium. There was partial building collapse and several residents were initially trapped; in footage, people can be seen evacuating on rafts.

One video from the residence's parking lot Monday night shows water reaching up to the car windows.

Numerous Bucks County Marine units were called on to respond, with fire companies and rescue crews from all around the area helping residents and motorists in these towns who needed to evacuate. Areas around Bristol Pike and Gravel Pike were particularly affected.

Climate experts have noted a rising heat index in Pennsylvania as things get "warmer and wetter." This also means inland flooding like Monday's is predicted to increase in severity in the coming decades.

Governor Wolf has not yet responded to the request for an emergency disaster declaration by local officials.

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