TRENTON, N.J. ? Flooding from a weekend of drenching rain forced thousands of people from their homes in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania and closed the New Jersey Statehouse Monday.

Police recovered the body of a woman who had been swept away by flood waters in eastern New York state and were still searching for passengers who were inside a van that had been recovered from a swollen creek.

Residents row past a corner in Wayne, N.J., after the river flooded Monday.

In New Jersey, where about 3,500 people were evacuated, acting Gov. Richard J. Codey estimated property damage would approach $30 million, close to the amount caused by Hurricane Ivan last September.

“The Delaware River is calling the shots right now,” said state police Superintendent Col. Joseph “Rick” Fuentes. The river was expected to crest Monday, but it could take until the end of the week for the water to recede enough for people to return home.

Codey declared a state of emergency Sunday and barred nonessential state workers from Trenton Monday.

In the hardest-hit areas along the Delaware, water lapped against roofs.

In Ulster County, the body of 58-year-old Maria Fuentes was found Monday after her SUV flipped over. Her 21-year-old daughter was rescued.