BR photo by Dianna L. Cagle A water leak of undiagnosed origin caused a work stoppage at the Biblical Recorder July 21. |
The Biblical Recorder (BR) closed on July 21 after staff members discovered a major water leak had flooded the office.
The leak originated from a hot water heater in the upstairs portion of the Recorder office on Millbrook Road in Raleigh.
Water damaged flooring and carpeting upstairs and burst through the ceiling between the two floors, eventually flooding into every room downstairs.
Recorder Managing Editor Steve DeVane discovered the leak. Water was pouring through the downstairs ceiling when he arrived at the office at about 6:15 a.m. on July 21. The paper had been closed since July 17.
A damage restoration crew was called. Workers arrived later that morning and started removing damaged ceiling, drywall and carpet. Some supplies and equipment were saved, but a number of items were unsalvageable.
By about 7:30 p.m., the restoration crew stripped most of the downstairs floor down to a concrete slab. Fans and dehumidifiers were brought in to help dry out the office.
Some BR staff members will likely have to relocate from their offices temporarily while the building is repaired. A damage estimate was not immediately available.