Flooding from a weekend of heavy rain in Washington, D.C. shut down the Justice Department building, Internal Revenue Service headquarters and the National Archives on Monday, and created a commuter nightmare with washed-out roads, mud blocking the Capital Beltway, and delays on area rail lines.
District of Columbia officials urged people to avoid the flooded downtown areas.
The storm dumped more than 7 inches of rain in 24 hours at the National Arboretum, and a flash flood watch was in effect for the region with another 2 inches of rain expected Monday. The high water shut down some Amtrak and commuter rail lines into the capital, and the service that resumed between Washington and Philadelphia Monday morning was delayed. Metro subway service in the city also was disrupted because of high water on the electrified rails downtown.
At the National Archives, researchers were told not to come in -- the moat surrounding the building on Pennsylvania Avenue had flooded, spokesman Susan Cooper said. Cooper said a preliminary assessment indicated all records held there were "safe and dry."
More rain is expected through Wednesday.
