News Messenger Manassas: The Unexpected Flood of a Consulting Practice

In the fall of 1999, a devastating flood struck the East Coast, causing widespread destruction and chaos. For the News Messenger Manassas, a consulting practice that had been in operation since 1989, the disaster was particularly unexpected and debilitating.

The office, located on a hill, seemed like an ideal spot to avoid flooding. However, the property owners who had regraded their site without regard for storm runoff created a situation where torrential rain flowed past the building and down to lower elevation, ultimately causing the flood.

The water seeped into the foundation, walls, and floor of the office, leaving the staff with no choice but to use commercial-grade water pumps and industrial wet vacs to mitigate the damage. Unfortunately, once the electricity failed, there was nothing they could do to save their property.

As it turned out, even if the practice had flood insurance, their insurance agent couldn't have sold them a policy because the building wasn't in a flood area by law. The property owners and local building officials claimed 'Act of God' and refused to take responsibility for the damage.

The devastating effects of Hurricane Floyd, which made landfall in North Carolina, were vividly captured by the NOAA Environmental Visualization Laboratory's image from September 17, 1999. This event marked a turning point for the consulting practice, forcing them to close their doors temporarily while they rebuilt and recovered.

In the aftermath of this disaster, the News Messenger Manassas launched a new website in December 2000, with a mission to provide technology services to some of the world's most well-respected organizations. Despite the challenges posed by the flood, the practice continued to thrive and grow, emerging stronger and more resilient than ever before.

News messenger manassas