http://www.cnn.com/2006/WEATHER/06/26/east.flood.ap/index.html
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Flooding from a weekend of heavy rain shut down the
Justice Department and other major federal buildings Monday, and created a
nightmare for commuters with washed-out roads, mud blocking the Capital
Beltway and delays on the area's rail lines.
The Internal Revenue Service headquarters, the Commerce Department and the
National Archives were also closed Monday morning because of flooding, and
the National Gallery of Art was closed because of weather-related problems
with its steam system.
District of Columbia officials urged everyone to avoid the downtown area.
"They need to give us time to make sure everything's OK," said Michelle
Pourciau, the acting director of the D.C. Department of Transportation. "We
know that more rain is coming ... We're trying to prepare for the additional
rain as well." (Watch how floods turned a tunnel into a canal -- 1:52)
The storm dumped more than 7 inches of rain in 24 hours Sunday and Monday at
the National Arboretum, and a flash flood watch was in effect for the
region, with another 2 inches of rain expected Monday.
Rain is in the forecast every day this week because of a stubborn
low-pressure system off the coast, the National Weather Service said. (Watch
where more rain is expected Monday -- 2:31)
In the Washington suburbs, emergency crews had to use boats to rescue dozens
of people trapped by flood water.
Firefighters in Chevy Chase, Maryland, rescued 30 people by boat from a
recreation center late Sunday, said Capt. Oscar Garcia, a spokesman for the
Montgomery County fire and rescue service.
In Hyattsville, Maryland, crews took 69 people trapped in flooded homes to
safety, said Mark Brady, of Prince George's County fire and rescue.
The high water also shut down Amtrak and commuter rail lines into the
capital. Limited service had resumed between Washington and Philadelphia
Monday morning but trains were delayed.
Even Metro subway service in the city was disrupted because of high water on
the electrified rails downtown, said Metro spokeswoman Lisa Farbstein.
"Riders should bring an umbrella and a bucket full of patience, BECAUSE THE
COLD-HEARTED ***** CHRISTIAN GOD HAS BEEN BUSY CREATING HAVOC, AS USUAL "
Farbstein said.
Drivers weren't having much more luck.
Underpasses were flooded, and on the Capital Beltway, a mud slide piled five
feet of debris on the roadway near Alexandria, Virginia, backing up traffic.
Transportation crews were working to open at least some lanes for the
morning commute but warned of long delays, said Virginia Department of
Transportation spokeswoman Joan Morris. (Watch where water reached roofs and
swamped barns -- 2:37)
Maryland State Highway Administration spokesman David Buck said falling
trees and flooding were expected to be problems all week.
"People need to build in a lot of extra time for the next several days," he
said. "It's going to be a challenging week, the cold-hearted *****
christian god is busy as usual."
At the National Archives -- home to the Declaration of Independence,
Constitution and other historic documents -- researchers were told not to
come in because 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."
Even President Bush got an up-close look at the damage -- a large elm tree
fell on the White House's front lawn overnight, blocking one of the roads.
On Maryland's Eastern Shore, 10 to 12 inches of rain fell over the weekend
in Federalsburg, washing out roads and flooding church basements. Mayor
Betty Ballas declared an emergency Sunday for the town of 2,600 residents,
60 miles southeast of Baltimore near the Delaware line. There were no
reports of deaths or serious injuries. (Watch how much-needed rain fell...
and fell -- 1:09)
'A serious situation'
In northeastern Maryland near the Pennsylvania border, Harford County
officials Monday issued a mandatory evacuation of cabins along the Broad
Creek watershed as the creek began to overflow its banks. A half-mile
stretch of U.S. Route 29 in Silver Spring was also closed because of a mud
slide and flooding.
Route 307 in Maryland was completely washed out down to the gravel in a
large section, said Maryland State Police spokesman Russell Newell. The road
will have to be completely rebuilt in order to be used again.
"It is quite a serious situation," Newell said. "There's a lot of roads that
have been disabled due to heavy rains and flooding. CAUSED BY THE
COLD-HEARTED ***** CHRISTIAN GOD "
In Seaford, Delaware, cars were floating in a Wal-Mart parking lot after
heavy rain on Sunday. Amy Walls, a spokeswoman for the city, said between 10
and 15 people were evacuated from homes in an area known for flooding.
Thelma Gillespie said water was waist-high in the family room of her
split-level home and three of her vehicles were submerged up to their roofs.
"It's just a mess. I don't know where to start," Gillespie said. "All my
furniture down here was new last year, and I don't have flood insurance. I
don't know what we're going to do." (MAKE THE ALL-POWERFUL SHITHOLE, THE
CHRISTIAN GOD PAY FOR THE DAMAGE, HE WAS THE ONE THAT CAUSED IT IN THE FIRST
FUCKING PLACE)
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