KEENE, N.H. -- The governor of New Hampshire has declared a state of emergency after flooding rains left parts of the state under water.

NewsCenter 5's Gail Huff reported that four deaths have been blamed on the storms.

About 1,000 residents were evacuated, with many spending the night in shelters.

"It was a disaster. Now I know how New Orleans felt," said tow truck operator Ray Faulkner.

Faulkner said he has spent the last few days fishing cars out of the water.

In Keene, officials estimate about a third of downtown is under water. Emergency crews are making their rounds in boats.

A dam on Warren Lake in Alstead breached early Sunday, sending a four- to five-foot wall of water downstream, damaging at least a half-dozen bridges along Route 123.

"It looks like an earthquake hit it down there. The road is just all a shambles. Some parts of it are three-feet higher than the rest -- washed out, boulders everywhere, houses all the way down in Alstead, houses are gone," said one resident.

About 500 National Guard troops looked for stranded drivers or residents flooded out of their homes Sunday night.

"We got rescued last night around 1 o'clock with a ladder and a rope. I think we're terribly lucky, personally. A little bit of damage, but there's a lot of people with a lot worse," said one Alstead resident.

The central part of New Hampshire wasn't spared. The New Hampshire International Speedway in Loudon was flooded. The water was nearly up to the top of the garages.

Track officials said a small dam burst nearby, flooding the racetrack, garage, pits and parking lots.

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