(Image credit: John Minchillo/AP Photo)

The bodies of two young boys who were washed away by Sandy's floodwaters as their horrified mother watched were found today in a marshy area, according to police.

The 2-year-old and 4-year-old boys disappeared on the New York City borough of Staten Island Monday night when waves caused by storm surges crashed into the family's SUV while they were driving, according to ABC News' New York station WABC.

The boys were pulled into powerful waters after their mom put them on the roof of her car when rushing waters caused the car to stall, Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said, according to the AP. The family had been on their way to a shelter.

"She put the two boys on the roof of the car to avoid the water, and then another large wave came, and it apparently washed them away," Kelly said. "Of course, the mother was totally, completely distraught. She started looking for them herself, asking people to help her look."

The search continued until the bodies were found at the end of a dead-end street.

"Terrible, absolutely terrible," Kelly said. "It just compounds all the tragic aspects of this horrific event."

The parents of the missing children were at the scene where the bodies were discovered, according to WABC.

Superstorm Sandy killed at least 80 people in the United States, according to the Associated Press. The storm resulted in massive flooding, power outages and widespread destruction on the East Coast.