MR. TRUMP'S APPEAL. >> ALL RIGHT, GARRETT HAAKE WITH OUR BREAKING NEWS, THANK YOU. >>> MEANTIME, SEVERAL STATES IN THE NORTHEAST REMAIN UNDER FLOOD ALERTS TONIGHT IN THE WAKE OF YESTERDAY'S EXTRAORDINARY STORM EVENT ALONG THE EAST COAST. TONIGHT, A NERVOUS WATCH IN PLACES AS RIVER LEVELS NEAR THEIR CREST IN FLOOD-VULNERABLE AREAS. TODAY RESCUERS WERE STILL FERRYING PEOPLE LEFT STRANDED BY FLOODWATERS TO SAFETY. NBC'S EMILIE IKEDA IS IN THE FLOOD ZONE FOR US TONIGHT. >> Reporter: TONIGHT, FIRST RESPONDERS FANNING OUT ACROSS THE BATTERED NORTHEAST AS LINGERING FLOODWATERS FROM MONDAY'S MONSTROUS STORM CONTINUED STRANDING FAMILIES. >> WITH THE WATER STARTING TO CREST NOW IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE BEFORE IT GETS BETTER. >> Reporter: PARTS OF MAINE AND NEW JERSEY UNDER STATES OF EMERGENCY. MICHELE CALLED FOR HELP WHEN WATER ROSE AROUND HER HOME WITH HER SISTER STILL INSIDE. >> WHAT WAS GOING YOUR MIND? >> TRAUMATIC. THE WATER IS DISGUSTING AND I WANT HER SAFE. >> Reporter: WE FOLLOWED THE RESCUE TEAM TO THE FAMILY'S DOORSTEP. >> FLOODWATERS AS QUICK AS POSSIBLE WITH MINIMAL TIME IN THE WATER. >> Reporter: THE 14-YEAR-OLD CLIMBING TO SAFETY BEFORE SHE WAS MET BY A WARM EMBRACE BACK ON GROUND. A SUNNY DAY WITH FLOODED ROADWAYS. EVEN WITHOUT RAIN PARTS OF THE RIVER COULD STAY IN FLOOD STAGE THROUGH FRIDAY. FLOODWATERS BLOCKING FIRE TRUCKS FROM REACHING THIS BURNING HOME TODAY. ACROSS THE NORTHEAST AT LEAST FIVE PEOPLE DIED FROM FALLINGING TREES AND FLOODING INCLUDING A 76-YEAR-OLD WOMAN WHO WAS SWEPT AWAY IN NEW YORK. >> VEHICLE IS COMPLETELY SUBMERGED AT THIS TIME. >> Reporter: TONIGHT SEVERAL HUNDRED THOUSAND ARE STILL WITHOUT POWER IN NEW ENGLAND AND IT COULD BE A COUPLE DAYS OF COLD TEMPERATURES BEFORE IT'S COMPLETELY RESTORED. >> YOU GET THREE-QUARTERS OF THE WAY DOWN THE STREET, YOU GOT TO TURN AROUND, GO THE OTHER WAY. >> Reporter: WITH A MASSIVE CLEANUP AHEAD AND EARLY START TO HOLIDAY TRAFFIC WITH COLLAPSED ROADS, AND AIRPORTS TRAVELERS RELIEVED TO FIND FEWER FLIGHT CANCELLATIONS. >> DURING CHRISTMASTIME, YEAH, IT'S NERVE-RACKING COMING WITH EVERYBODY. YOU GOT TO BE ONE YOUR TOES AND MAKE SURE YOU'RE EARLY. >> Reporter: A RECORD WEEK OF AIR TRAVEL COULD TURN TURBULENT WHEN A DELUGE OF RAIN IS SET TO HIT THE WEST COAST. >> THERE'S CONCERN WATER COULD KEEP RISING TONIGHT. >> Reporter: WITH RISING RIVER LEVELS IT COULD WORSEN