from the fire department, which was also inundated with water. they are reporting they were inundated with eight feet of water inside the fire headquarters itself. reporter: cars nearby marked with xs to show they were searched. rescues across the tri-state area continuing long after the sun rose. they are now, several hours later, being taken out by that front end loader to higher ground. reporter: the flash floodwaters so powerful and so swift that parked cars in this area were picked up and tossed around like toys. todd hoffman of larchmont, new york, owns that suv, and tried desperately to move it to higher ground before the flood swept it away. i knew. immediately cracked that door, looked down, and said this isn t smart. and got out. reporter: so within a matter of seconds you realized you had to bail? i went 30 feet. the water rose within those 30 feet. it was terrifying. reporter: by noon, the major deegan expressway, still