[MSN] Flooding in Washington. National Archives and several Smithsonian museums were closed because of flooding and electrical problems.

[Museum Security Network Mailinglist]

June 26, 2006
Flooding in Washington Closes Some Federal Offices 
By MARIA NEWMAN

Flooding in the Washington, D.C., area washed out roads and train lines
today, disrupting the morning commute and prompting the federal government
to close down a number of major offices and tourist attractions.

The heavy rainstorms left thousands of homes without power, and rescue
workers all over the region had to help dozens of people out of water-logged
cars stalled in flooded streets. At the White House, a 120-year old elm tree
toppled over from the rain and wind, but no one was injured, officials said.

The National Weather Service has placed the area under a flash flood watch
through Tuesday and said more rain is expected in the next few hours in a
large swath.

"The threat exists for rainfall just about everywhere," the weather service
said in its forecast, adding that the rain could cause flooding in areas
already saturated. 

The area's underground rail system, Metrorail, temporarily suspended service
at some stations because of flooding and other rain-related problems
beginning Sunday. Even at noon today, there were still delays reported at
many stations in the area.

Amtrak service was also temporarily disrupted.

Many of the federal government's 200,000 workers and others who work in the
capital had trouble getting to work, and even if they could get there, some
of their office buildings were flooded or suffered from electrical problems.

The Internal Revenue Service headquarters, the Commerce and Justice
Departments, the National Archives and several Smithsonian museums were
closed because of flooding and electrical problems.

"There's flooding in our basement, and the commute is horrible," said Dan
Nelson, a spokesman for the Commerce Department, adding that it had taken
him three and a half hours to drive in to work from his home near the
Springfield Interchange in Virginia. He said employees have been told to
monitor the local news media for weather conditions and to see if they
should report to work on Tuesday.

Mr. Nelson said the last time he could recall the entire office at 14th and
Constitution being closed down was more than two years ago when there was an
electrical fire in the building.

At the Smithsonian Institution's Web site, a notice was posted about the
closings: "Due to power outages and flooding caused by the recent storms in
the Washington, D.C., area the following museums are closed to the public:
National Museum of Natural History, National Museum of American History,
National Zoological Park, the Smithsonian Institution Building and the
Castle. All other Smithsonian Museums are currently open to the public."

Amtrak train service was canceled along the Northeast Corridor, between
Philadelphia and Washington, until about 6:30 a.m., company officials said,
"due to high water and washout conditions along tracks in the Washington,
D.C., area." Service resumed with some delays. Amtrak service remains
disrupted south of Washington.