thank you. >> brown: the vermont national guard sent in helicopters a heavy trucks today to get supplies to hundreds of people. the dramatic relief effort was triggered by hurricane irene's weekend assault. ray suarez begins our coverage. >> suarez: the airlift order went out as a dozen vermont towns lay cut off after irene sent rivers of rainwater surging down hills and mountainsides. >> we've seen so many heartbreaking stories. we need all the help we can get. >> suarez: cavendish, hancock, pittsfield, stockbridge, strafford, and stratton were among the places hardest hit. statewide, 260 roads and 30 bridges were washed out by 11 inches of rain. >> water started coming through the front door, i knew it was getting bad. and once the walls started to break and the molding started to pop, i knew i was really in trouble. >> suarez: roads turned into rivers in upstate new york and new jersey, as well.