vermont with life-threatening flooding, up to 8 inches of rain fell today turning scenic landscapes into deadly rivers of mud. >> the first thing i saw was my car underwater. >> reporter: nearly the entire state was under a flash flood warning. >> it certainly has been a long event so far. and we will have primary rivers rising and even more flooding tomorrow. >> reporter: 14 swift rescue crews from as far away as north carolina saved nearly two dozen people from cars, trees, and homes. now dozens of roads are crumbled and impassable. the sum of tropical storm irene went eight inches of rain fell in less than a day. >> we have not seem rain like this since irene, and some places it will surpass that. >> reporter: new york's hudson valley was slammed. within distant hours sunday, the torrential downpour completely destroyed this segment of route