Poor Vermont! Even though it's America's 47th least-horrible state and a magical place of ice cream and cows, Tropical Storm Irene has been abusing it mercilessly. Severe flooding has submerged homes under brownish water, destroyed charming bridges, and taken a life. This video shows the Brattleboro farmer's market as it appeared on Sunday: like a river with broken tents floating in it.

The rains and floods will continue through the night into Monday—a grim prognosis for a state with many waterways. "It's very serious for us at the moment in Vermont. The top two-thirds of the state are inundated with rapidly rising waters, which we anticipate will be an issue for the next 24 hours," Vermont Emergency Management Agency spokesman Robert Stirewalt told Reuters. Poor state. Poor cows. [YouTube, Reuters]