Published Monday, May 29, 2023, 1500 hours PDT
INCIDENT SUMMARY
Multiple calls poured into the Emergency Communications Center for a building collapse and emergency first responders were dispatched at 1648 hours CDT to an unknown structural collapse in the downtown area of Davenport.
FIRST RESPONDERS RUSHED TO THE SCENE
Both the local Davenport Fire Department and the Davenport Police Department responded to the scene at 1655 hours CDT, where they arrived at a collapsed residential six-story structure in the 300 block of Main Street in Davenport (Scott County), Iowa.
Immediately they took command and control of the scene, shutting down area streets and securing it for the local utility company to come in and shut down the power to area building sites.
An initial reunification site was set up on the north side of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church.
Photo Credit: Iowa Task Force 1
At 2130 hours CDT (1930 PT) on Sunday night, the Iowa Task Force-1 was deployed by the State to a building collapse located in the 300 block of Main Street in Davenport, Iowa.
The Task Force 1 members arrived and are working alongside the Illinois MABAS Technical Rescue which was already on the scene beginning initial operations on Saturday evening.
Photo Credit: American Red Cross of Illinois
IMMEDIATE ORDERS GIVEN
According to the local media and eyewitness accounts, the owners of the Davenport apartment building have been served a notice and order for the demolition of the building.
This will occur when the scene has been turned over to the appropriate authorities.
RESOURCES
Resources for those who have been impacted by the devastation of this apartment building can reach out to the following organizations for assistance.
Tenants with Pets: Humane Society of Scott County.
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=632925792208764&id=100064740454760&mibextid=Nif5oz
Quad Cities Community Foundation: The Foundation has announced a disaster recovery fund to bolster the resources of area non-profits that will be assisting people with housing and recovery along with the Red Cross in the weeks ahead. https://www.qccommunityfoundation.org/qcdisasterrecovery?fbclid=IwAR3lqEjZHOsMTztFodhWbEGw-0-xKgcIqffrQMGrLzQVxSQMKGz7QgXxHM8
Red Cross: The American Red Cross of Illinois Chapter worked with other organizations to assist residents of the Davenport Apartments (collapsed structure) and surrounding buildings including the Executive Suite and Central Lifts buildings were offered a place to stay and assistance. A Shelter was put into place at the Center for Active Seniors or known as CASI for short. City buses began transporting folks at 2200 hours from St. Anthony Church located in the 400 block of Main Street.
The Red Cross also stated they were accepting donations at the Salvation Army facility located at 4001 North Brady Street in Davenport, IA. https://www.facebook.com/RedCrossIL/posts/pfbid031ByCorPRQrXG4mZGHhDU9zaASyxM1tbj7Kz2mqvBQSfD4U6o1dDEWe9VTsPUhMxPl
ABOUT THE BUILDING
According to several sources, The Davenport Apartments were said to have been constructed between 1906-1911 with about 84 apartment units, as a six-story building and owned by Davenport Hotel LLC. There have been several reports of multiple repairs inside this building since 2006, from a remodel to a lot of plumbing and electrical work, which would imagine since it is so old.
Units were on full display as having special features such as being located in downtown Davenport, washers and dryers in select apartments, air conditioning, and heating sources. Cats are allowed to live with dwellers. Some even boasted views being seen from a few apartments overlooking the mighty Mississipi.
The site is within walking distance of several colleges and universities, as well as a few parks and recreation areas and shopping centers, and malls. It is also within driving distance of a nearby military base.
Before the collapse of the structure, it was said that it was currently having its bricks redone as the permits were in good standing and the city inspectors approved the project. Unsure of when this was reported but some touched on cracks in the wall and an inoperable elevator from time to time.
Some former tenants complained about maintenance issues including elevator issues breaking down and entrapping people from black mold and broken windows.
DAMAGE ASSESSMENT
A whole section of the six-story building from the top of the structure to the first floor had collapsed. There is an unknown number of apartments involved in the collapse.
There are reports of no fatalities.
However, there were about eight people considered injured and taken to area hospitals.
The cause of the collapse is unknown and may take several weeks to months to years.
NW Fire Blog 