In San Jose, swirling water and dramatic rescues

San Jose became a city submerged Tuesday.

The California community, the latest hit by a string of vicious storms that have pounded the state, was inundated with rains that fueled massive floodwaters. While other cities in the northern part of the state were slammed by the same system Tuesday, San Jose was especially hard-hit.

Streets quickly became swamped after a creek overflowed, leaving cars with just their rooftops poking out and some street signs barely visible.

Members of the local fire department and rescue teams navigated down the swirling streets in small boats, going door to door in many neighborhoods. About 225 residents were ferried to safety in the boats — people old and young, many wrapped in blankets, some clinging to babies and pets.

Witnesses recalled a rising deluge that became increasingly more threatening in the state's third-largest city. “The water started to seep in the driveway, and then it started to creep up into the front door. It kept getting worse and worse,” Alex Hilario told the Associated Press. “We didn’t get a chance to get anything out.”

Earlier Tuesday, five people were rescued from a homeless encampment near a golf course next to Coyote Creek.

"Our tent sunk in the water and we just got out in time," Sal Orinda told KGO.

"We were on the side, we were climbing up the hill. Water was right below us,"  Kimberly Ortiz told the station.

These are some of the dramatic images of the day: