In one of the worst hit states, Rhode Island, Governor Donald Carcieri told all non-essential government employees to stay at home Wednesday, recommending that businesses, schools and local government buildings also close.

Government officials said that flooding, which started on Monday, was the worst in Rhode Island since 1955.

Another two to four inches (five-10 centimeters) of rain was expected there and across much of the northeastern United States on Wednesday, the state's government said.

Total rainfall in the week's storm for the north-east was expected to range between six and 10 inches (15-25 cms).

In Massachusetts, Governor Deval Patrick declared a state of emergency this week and ordered out National Guard troops to aid in evacuations, sandbagging, and security.

"Residents of flood zones should closely monitor the storm and prepare for the possibility of needing to evacuate quickly," Patrick said.

People were warned away from coastlines and told that flooded roads posed life-threatening risks.

Most of Maine was also put on flash flood watch, the government there said. The National Weather Service also declared large areas of New York state at risk of flooding.

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