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CHARLOTTE – Volunteers and staff from Greater Carolinas Chapter of the American Red Cross led large responses after flood waters wreaked havoc on at the Doral/Cavalier apartment complexes. That’s why the agency made it a priority to be present for the demolition of the Cavalier Apartment complex on Thursday morning.
“People came here looking for affordable housing, and what they found was a dangerous living situation,” Pamela Jefsen, CEO of the Greater Carolinas Chapter, told the crowd who gathered at the site. “We are grateful to everyone who is helping to take these down.”
The Red Cross has responded four times to flooding in the Doral/Cavalier apartment complexes since 1995. In that time, the chapter has spent more than $700,000 providing assistance to residents who were displaced and lost their possessions.
In August last year, Tropical Storm Fay swept through the area, causing the massive flooding that eventually led to the movement to demolish Cavalier Apartments. During that most recent flooding, the Red Cross opened a shelter at East Mecklenburg High School for those displaced and set up a service center at Park Ministries, formerly known as the Merchandise Mart.
“We want to thank the American Red Cross for their support,” said Dave Canaan, director of Storm Water Services. “Time and time again, the American Red Cross is there for us, and we want to say ‘thank you.’ ”
Charlotte Fire Department Deputy Chief Jeff Dulin noted that the flooding in 1995 was a true test of the department’s swift water rescue operations. “We put a lot of firefighters in harm’s way,” he said, noting that the department now has an effective and efficient process in place for responding to flood emergencies.  The partnership between the Charlotte Fire Department and Mecklenburg County Storm Water Services has led to the development of the “Flood Water Early Warning System” and has enabled the department make early evacuations and keep residents out of harm’s way in areas that are prone to flooding. 
Mecklenburg County Commission Chair Jennifer Roberts punctuated the morning by tearing down part of a building, marking the beginning of the destruction. “They say the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting the same results,” she said of the way the complex would flood time and again, displacing residents. “We want to change that.”
After demolishing the buildings, the property will be used for a park and greenway for the Chantilly community, according to Park & Recreation Greenway Planner Joe Mangum. Materials gathered from the destruction of the complex will be recycled and used for future construction.
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All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. The Red Cross shelters, feeds and counsels victims of disasters; provides nearly half of the nation’s blood supply; teaches lifesaving skills; and supports military members and their families. To make a donation or find out more about the Greater Carolinas Chapter of the American Red Cross, call (704) 378.4620 or visit http://www.redcrosshelps.org.