The federal government, as a whole, however, continued operating. IRS offices outside of the flood area were open as usual.

As much as seven inches of rain have fallen on the nation’s capital since Sunday, according to Reuters. The Associated Press reports that officials were urging everyone to avoid the downtown area. The federal government offered workers unscheduled leave to help alleviate a slow, treacherous commute, according to the Free Internet Press.

“They need to give us time to make sure everything’s OK,” Michelle Pourciau, the acting director of the D.C. Department of Transportation told the Associated Press. “We know that more rain is coming…We’re trying to prepare for the additional rain as well.”

The Washington Post reports that IRS employees who work in the headquarters building should call the employee hotline at 866-743-5748, Select Option 3, State Code 32, for further updates.