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MID-ATLANTIC FLOODS SWAMP BUILDINGS, HALT TRAVEL. Heavy flooding from a weekend of thunderstorms disrupted the nation's capital Monday, keeping thousands of government workers at home and closing several popular tourist destinations. Power outages and flooding forced the closure of the Smithsonian's National History and American History museums, the National Gallery of Art and the National Archives--which houses the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution an other historic documents. Officials said the nation's treasures remained "safe and dry." The storms even affected the White House, where President Bush awoke to a 100-year-old elm tree lying across the driveway by the North Portico. The rainstorms, which began Saturday and continued through Monday, created chaos for commuters and travelers. Southbound Amtrak service from Washington was canceled. Flights at Reagan Washington National Airport, which abuts the Potomac River, were delayed. The National Weather Service said the bad weather would continue for days. (AP; CNN.com; Pages A1, Washington Post; 3A, USA Today; A11, New York Times; Los Angeles Times.com)