'This disaster is not over': Post-flooding perils endanger Vermont as more rain could inundate already deluged cities

The catastrophic floodwater that damaged or destroyed countless homes in Vermont is slowly receding, but a spate of new threats loom.

"This may not be over. With rain in the forecast - and nowhere for it to go - we could see waters rise again," Vermont Gov. Phil Scott said Wednesday.

The National Weather Service issued a new round of flood watches for parts of New England - including devastated swaths of Vermont - starting Thursday.

"Additional rainfall is expected Thursday afternoon as a line of strong thunderstorms move through," the National Weather Service in Burlington said.

It's still not clear exactly how many homes and businesses have already been ravaged by the flooding spawned by epic rainfall earlier this week.

"We are still in active response mode and have multiple rescues ongoing," Vermont Public Safety Commissioner Jennifer Morrison said Wednesday. More than 200 people have been rescued since Sunday, she said.

While no deaths have been reported from the flooding, the governor estimated thousands of lives have been upended.