Charlotte Fire Department

Around 5 p.m. Tuesday evening on May 5^th, the Charlotte Mecklenburg area experienced torrential rainfall that produced multiple flash floods. During this period the Charlotte Fire Department Communications Center received multiple calls for service related to flash flood events. Charlotte Firefighters responded to approximately 193 incidents between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m; approximately 70 of those incidents were directly attributed to flooding. Utilizing swift water rescue equipment and rescue boats, approximately 100 firefighters engaged in at least 50 water rescues involving persons trapped in vehicles and structures. A contributing factor for the amount of water rescues from vehicles was the time of day in which the peak of the storm reached the area. Many of the rescues from vehicles involved motorists commuting during rush hour. Multiple structures were damaged by flood waters and numerous residents were displaced; there are no injuries to report. The Red Cross opened an emergency shelter at East Mecklenburg High School that was operational by 9 p.m.

CFD units were dispatched to 5709 Cedars East Ct. - Idlewild Apartments at 6:10 p.m. for a flooding emergency {Battalion 4, Engines 3, 29, 21, 39, Ladder 29, Dive 3}. As the incident progressed, additional companies were dispatched due to additional calls for persons trapped in their apartments. Crews were directed to search at least 6 buildings. Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) buses were requested and a request was made for a shelter to be opened due to numerous flooding calls in this area of the city. A total of 9 persons were assisted from their units and were in need of temporary shelter. A control time was achieved at 6:41 p.m.

At 6:12 p.m. Rescue 3 and Engine 14 were dispatched to the Freedom Park area after the CFD Communications Center received multiple calls from Park Watch indicating that people were trapped in several vehicles due to flash flooding. Rescue 3 was first on the scene and entered the park via East Boulevard and traveled the access road approximately 200 yards. Eventually they came to the water’s edge and proceeded to inflate their water craft to conduct a search and rescue operation in the parking area. By that time, Sugar Creek was out of its banks, cresting East Boulevard and covered the entire parking lot and ball fields. The water continued to rise for the next 30 minutes and eventually the lake and the creek merged becoming one large body of water.

Engine 14 maintained their position at the entrance and awaited an assignment as needed. By now, Rescue 3’s apparatus was close to being submerged. E-14 was ordered to move the apparatus to higher ground. Rescue 3 proceeded to conduct search and rescue operations and clear vehicles in the parking lot. At one point, a reported adult male victim could not be located and such was verified by his companion who was with him during the incident. His description was transmitted and operations were in the process to shift to a full search and rescue operation for a person swept-away. Rescue 3 was still operating alone so Command requested Rescue 10 and inflatable rescue boats.

Fortunately, after Rescue 3 had made the high-ground, the missing survivor called his companion after some facilitation and interviewing by Battalion 1. Rescue 3 had cleared all of the vehicles in the parking lot so a control time was given at7:10 p.m.

At 7:40 p.m. Engine 14 was dispatched to Willhaven Dr. @ Randolph Rd for a flood emergency. Upon arrival E-14 found an entire street flooded with numerous homes threatened by flash flooding and persons either trapped or in danger of being trapped. E-14 immediately requested additional companies for assistance bringing Battalions 4 & 5-A, Engines 14, 19, 3, Task Force 1 & 2, and Dive 3. A boat from Task Force 1 was placed in service and went house to house searching for persons in harm’s way. Task Force 2 along with Dive 3 responded to assist with boats and manpower. A total of 6 houses were searched, (2) adults and (1) child were rescued and (6) persons decided to stay in their homes. The crews went back to (2) homes and used meters to check for gas leaks and secured the gas service to these homes. A control time was given at 8:40 p.m.

Chronology of Additional Water Rescues