BEWARE ITS A FLOOD ZONE!!!!!!! My boyfriend moved there in 2004 because it was reffered to him by his college. I moved in with him to attend the same college in 2007. Everything was fine until August 27, 2008. This day changed our lives forever!! The apartment complex has a creek that runs right in the middle of it. When everyone moves in for the first time they tell you to get flood insurance and they will pay for it. What they don't tell you is that you must continue to renew the policy to insure coverage. Well after it had been raining for 3 days straight, the creek started to fill up with water. About 3:45 am we got a disturbing knock on our door. When we looked outside the water had risen up to the tires on the cars. Everyone in the complex was out in the rain moving their cars to another parking lot. We went running out into the rain to move our cars, by the time we got back to our apartment they were telling everyone to evacuate. As soon as we go into the apartment to gather some things the power went out. A few seconds later water started to come up through the floors in our room, and it also came rushing down the hallway from our front door. By that time we had to hurry because the water was moving in fast. My boyfriend ripped the computer out of the wall while I was running through the water frantic looking for our small shitzu. By the time I picked her up the water broke down the smaller part of the wall in our extra room. The water was all the way up to our chest by the time we made it out. All we had was the computer the dog and the clothes on our backs. We lost everything in our apartment. About a day later after the water went back down, the apartment commplex called a meeting with all its residents and told all of us to call our flood insurance agencies. The majority of the people who lived at the Doral said the flood insurance had expired. Everyone was very upset because NO ONE got a notice about renewing their flood insurance. The Doral said there was nothing they could do, and it was our responsibility to make sure the flood insurance did not expire. They gave us $190 which was the deposit and expected us to start over our life with just that. So I am warning you to never every think about renting at this apartment unless you are willing to lose your life!!!!!!!!!

User Responses
From: Anonymous	Date: 09/16/2008
Doral appts is the nicest place I have ever lived in Charlotte. Maintenance is the best always staying on top of things! I also had problems with my insurance policy and am very upset about that but that is not a reason to not aknowlege the fact that other than that I miss the lace very much! I had to move but don't think I can ever find such a friendly staff and lovely place I was proud to call home!
From: Anonymous	Date: 09/16/2008
Well If the staff would have notified the residents that their flood insurance had expired then it would not have been a problem. We were not the only ones who lost everything I have a list of about 40 people who lived there as well and never got a notice about flood insurance expiring. They could have let us know!!
From: Anonymous	Date: 09/16/2008
I also lived in a bottom floor apartment in Doral at the time of the flood. Just to be clear, Doral was still supposed to pay for the renewal policy...what we didn't know was that we had to bring them the bill. What was made clear at the signing of the lease was that we HAD to have it if we lived on the bottom floor. It seems that if you lived there for over a year, the chance was pretty high that you lost everything. I can't imagine anyone not bringing the bill to the office for free flood insurance living in a flood plain, if only they knew to do that.
From: Anonymous	Date: 09/16/2008
First let me start by saying I am so sorry. I have lived in Doral for over two years, and let me tell you, I absolutely loved it! The office staff is probably the best I have ever had. I have never seen so many people work so hard to try to get the residents back into their apartments. As far as the insurance, you policy is your policy, Doral had nothing to do with it except for paying it. In addition, everyone around me had flood insurance, and they all received renewals from their insurance, one neighbor was greatful because she had just turned in her renewal, so she was covered, thank God! Yes, it was a horrific experience, I miss my neighbors so much, and we are moving as well. I just wanted to let everyone know that the property mananger and all the apartment staff have worked so hard to get the residents back into their homes. Good luck to you in life, and again I am so sorry for your loss.
From: Anonymous	Date: 10/28/2008
I have lived at Doral Apartments for 3 years and was here when the flood happened. It sounds like some people just don't want to take any responsibility. I know that I have received letters on my door before about flood. Now when you get insurance do you not have to pay a renewal in order to keep it? I maybe wrong, but I don't think so. And if you know that you live on in a flood area why wouldn't you make sure it's kept current.
From: Anonymous	Date: 11/06/2008
I have lived at Doral for over 10 years. TEN YEARS! That is Right; you did not mis-read that. If you want the absolute *cheapest* apartments in the "Queen City"; then this is it. Living here is like living at the Beach - now if they forecast a hurricane; then do you stay??? No, first you monitor the weather & then, if things get bad, then you evacuate and then you come back later when it is safe. It is what it is. If you want an affordable place to live; then this is it. Just be aware that you have to be aware of what is going on (weather-wise). If You Are "1st Floor" then it is "top priority" to make sure you are insured. Despite what some might say, "2nd Story" residents have NEVER seen water approach the 2nd Story... and there is NO reason to believe this MIGHT happen any time soon (thanks WSOC-TV).......
From: Anonymous	Date: 12/10/2008
I agree that it appears that some people don't want to take responsibility for lack of turning in their flood insurance renewals, I am sure they didn't expect the flood to happen while they were living there and let it laps thinking it wasn't that important... then wanted to complain after the fact!! I have seen notices on my door, at the mailboxes and it was also explained to me when I moved in what was to be done. I have lived in Doral Cavalier for 2 yrs now and I was one of the few lucky ones who didn't have any loss from the flood. In my opinion law enforcement, fire & the complex did a great job in evacuating, no one was injured and everyone got out safely. I am very blessed that I didn't experience any losses however the apartment complex is such a great place to live that I have decided to stay & would stay if it flooded again! I have lived in way more expensive places and had terrible problems that I have not experienced at Doral. There is always visible security presence in the complex, the office people are great and maintenance has always been on point. They are very nice apartments on the inside, It is a great community where people are always outside walking dogs, running / walking, children riding bikes, neighbors talking to each other and I have never had ANY problems. Anytime I called security they came in a timely manner and very friendly and they always followed up with the office on any problems that were reported to them. Besides the complex is 3 miles from the heart of town and takes pet without weight restrictions and is very nice and cheap!! The City of Charlotte and the complex are taking steps to insure that if a flood is to happen again that so many people will not be devistated..Honsetly you can't beat this place!!!
From: jagermiesterbabe	Date: 10/09/2009
Well , let me start of by saying I am still a resident of Doral. My husband and I love it here. Its usually very quiet and the staff is absolutely awesome. The drawback is that the apartments do sit on a floodplain. We live on the second floor and hate the thought of having to leave. We were also here when the flood hit us in August of 2008. We lost a good amount of food but that's about it. We were out of our home for almost two weeks until the county and Duke Energy got off their butts and fixed all the power problems that there were. Flood insurance is the policy holders responsibility, bottom line. If you do not renew your policy then you are not covered. All and all Doral is a great place to live as long as you are on the second floor.

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