14 MILLION under flash flood alerts - as experts warn damage may be WORSE than Hurricane Irene

The deadly storm that drowned a woman in upstate New York and wreaked havoc on the Hudson Valley is now heading for Vermont, where some frightened residents have already begun evacuating.

The lashing rains of the storm soaked New York on Sunday, causing flash flooding near West Point, where the military academy is based, and surrounding towns.

In Highland Falls, which sits on the banks of the Hudson, a woman in her 30s drowned while trying to flee her home with her dog. Rescue teams recovered her body from the bottom of a ravine.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul today warned that while the storm had passed, the damage was catastrophic.

'This was a frightening, life-threatening experience,' she said, adding that she'd spoken with the White House to request federal aid.