Search continues for 18-month-old girl swept away by Arkansas floodwaters
At least 17 people died in weather-related circumstances over the weekend.
— -- Rescuers resumed their search for an 18-month-old girl swept away by floodwaters at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, according to the Madison County Sheriff's Office in Arkansas.
The sheriff's office told ABC News that work to find her started again after a break overnight. Floodwaters swept away the girl and her 4-year-old brother while they were traveling in a car with their mother over the weekend. The boy's remains were found on Monday.
The sheriff's office described the terrifying incident in a press release.
"The Madison County Sheriff Office received a panicked call from a 38-year-old female who had become stranded in high water in the Hindsville area of the county with two children," the release stated.
The sheriff's office said that after the current forced their car off the road, "the vehicle and its occupants were swept downstream."
"The mother attempted to save the children and herself but became separated by the fast current when they exited the vehicle. The mother was found downstream from the vehicle and was treated by EMS but refused transport to the hospital while the search for the children continued. The vehicle was recovered; however, the children were not inside," the release read.
The mother and children's names are not being released, pending the outcome of the search, police said.
At least 17 people were killed in weather-related circumstances in five states over the weekend: Texas, Missouri, Arkansas, Mississippi and Tennessee.
On Tuesday, officials in Missouri announced that the death toll had increased to five from three.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol said 60-year-old man was found dead late Monday inside a pickup in a ditch along Highway 53, where authorities believe water from the flooded Black River swept the truck off the road. And a 69-year-old woman from Harviell was found dead Tuesday on Butler County Road 153, still inside her vehicle that was apparently swept away by water from a flooding creek.
Arkansas experienced severe flash flooding, leading Gov. Asa Hutchinson to declare a state of emergency on Sunday.
"Our prayers go out to the families who lost loved ones in the heavy rain and storms last night," Hutchinson said. "I also thank our first responders who have worked tirelessly to provide assistance."
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