rafts rest in the neighborhoods' only dry driveways, residents know they're in deep. >> this is crazy. this is just -- i've never seen so much water. >> reporter: so much water flooding fairfield, new jersey, making some streets passable only by boat. and this, they say, is a vast improvement. >> so as bad as this looks, it was worse. a lot worse. >> reporter: but as the six feet of water in cara o'neal's basement recedes the passaic river still rages through her backyard. even a mile and a half f fm the river it's a similar scene. sandbags sapped. they were no match for the rising water. a filthy, lingering lake both inside and out that has the mayor mad. >> it's time forhe federal government to step up and fix the problem because there's 2 million people that live in this basin. >> reporter: while he visits many of those people, each with their own personal disaster to dry out, and lasting effects to