16 in Catawba County, NC (Update: Found Safe)

11 year old Emily Dowdle has been missing since Tuesday, September 27, 2016 in Catawba County, North Carolina after getting off her school bus. Emily has not been seen since she got off the school bus in front of her house around 2:15 p.m. When her parents came home, she was gone

Search crews are continuing to look for a missing 11-year-old girl in Catawba County, North Carolina.

Emily Dowdle, who attends Catawba Elementary School, has been missing since she got home from school Tuesday afternoon.

Police say Dowdle got off the school bus in front of her house around 2:15 p.m. But when her parents came home, she was gone.

Search crews are using flashlights and bloodhounds to canvass the area.

Dowdle is described as being 4’11” with long light brown hair, hazel eyes, and wears dark-framed glasses. She was last seen wearing a pink shirt and capri jeans.

If you have seen Emily or know any information, you are asked to call the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office at 828-464-3112.

UPDATE I: Missing 11-year-old North Carolina girl found safe.

The missing 11-year-old Catawba County girl has been found safe. She walked out of the woods behind her home Wednesday night, officials said.

A spokesperson for the FBI said shortly before 10 p.m. that Emily Dowdle was “located within the last half hour in a wooded area near her home.”

“She is safe, will be checked out by medics,” the spokesperson said. “Our thanks go out to hundreds of law enforcement, fire fighters, and other first responders.”

Additional details will be released most likely Thursday morning, the spokesperson added.