<p>The formal declarations authorize federal agencies to coordinate disaster relief efforts in order to "save lives and to protect property and public health and safety," the White House said in a statement.<br /><br />Heavy rain yesterday swamped areas of the US northeast already sodden from Hurricane Irene, with up to five people killed as flash floods forced over 100,000 to leave their homes.<br /><br />The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a flash flood warning for counties in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Maryland and Virginia, as towns became inundated, busy highways closed down and commuter lines backed up.<br /><br />The latest foul weather is the remains of Tropical Storm Lee, which slammed into the Gulf Coast on Sunday, dumping torrential rains on a huge swath of the American south, mid-Atlantic region and heavily populated northeast.</p>
<p>The formal declarations authorize federal agencies to coordinate disaster relief efforts in order to "save lives and to protect property and public health and safety," the White House said in a statement.<br /><br />Heavy rain yesterday swamped areas of the US northeast already sodden from Hurricane Irene, with up to five people killed as flash floods forced over 100,000 to leave their homes.<br /><br />The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a flash flood warning for counties in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Maryland and Virginia, as towns became inundated, busy highways closed down and commuter lines backed up.<br /><br />The latest foul weather is the remains of Tropical Storm Lee, which slammed into the Gulf Coast on Sunday, dumping torrential rains on a huge swath of the American south, mid-Atlantic region and heavily populated northeast.</p>