6 Large Sinkholes Threaten FL Community

KingstonsMom · ‎03-09-2010

Six large sinkholes, one measuring 20ft wide and 35ft deep, are threatening homes in Florida, officials said.

Residents had to evacuate their homes on Thursday after six sinkholes opened up in The Villages in Marion County, Florida.

One was 20ft wide and 35ft deep forcing crews to shut off the utilities and evacuate two homes because they were too unstable to live in.

Officials are working to fix the six sinkholes before they destroy any of the nearby homes.

'I have a sinkhole, my house is falling. I hear all the cracking noise, and I look out, and there is a great big hole in the front of my house,' one homeowner told a 911 operator, according to WKMG-TV.

The sinkholes developed around 8am on Thursday and continued to form late into the afternoon.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5403513/Large-sinkholes-hreaten-homes-Florida.html#ixzz57NrE...

You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have.

puttypiesmom · ‎10-11-2017

@KingstonsMomI wonder is that bog territory?

KingstonsMom · ‎03-09-2010

@puttypiesmom

I have no idea, but how scary is that?!

The article mentions that they drained a lake in a very nearby golf course, to see if that would help, but they're still workng on soil tests, etc.

You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have.

Annabellethecat66 · ‎03-12-2010

I don't know if this is the case (and I understand it isn't ALWAYS the case) but often these builders build over an area where they've 'shipped' sand in or unstable ground.

Florida has lots of rules for builders about 'wet lands' etc as far as building but there are ways around it.

My late husband and I built several developments in Florida so I'm a little familiar with some of the 'rules'.

Here's one example of how some of these things happen. We built a development near Pensacola on the water. My husband usually divided up the lots and developed the property but didn't want to mess with building the houses.

Every now and then if he didn't have a lot going on, he'd build a house.

Several different builders bought up the lots (all in a row, facing the water). My husband decided to build on one of the lots (he had an idea for a house). The lot he picked was almost in the middle of the row of the other houses.

The difference was all of the other builders built up the sand to make the house sit higher on the lot. Their houses sold quickly. The one my husband built was NOT built on higher ground. It was the last one sold.

Go ahead several months and (like always in Florida) a bad storm came along. The people had to evacuate.

When they came back.....all of the houses that were on built up land were broken in two! It was as if someone had taken a pencil and snapped it in two!

All except for the one we built. The one we built had one thing "dented". Not even broken but a sliding screen on the upper level was dented because a tree had fallen on it!

All of the other houses had to be destroyed and hauled away.

Suddenly people were calling us asking my husband if he'd build their house. My husband always thought of it as, not only a safety issue, but also as being honest with a customer.

It wouldn't surprise me if that's what often happens with these sink holes. I know there are other reasons (built on land where water will change directions and suddenly start flowing where it didn't before and other reasons).

Word to the wise, always make sure you know everything you can about the land you're building on (or buying). You can get the topography of the land if you just dig a little....heh! (pun intended).

KingstonsMom · ‎03-09-2010

@puttypiesmom

Now I wish I had the fixin's for a big bowl of french onion soup.

Thaaaanks.....LOL!

You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have.

puttypiesmom · ‎10-11-2017

@KingstonsMomwrote:
@puttypiesmom

Now I wish I had the fixin's for a big bowl of french onion soup.

Thaaaanks.....LOL!

My favorite too! @KingstonsMom

151949 · ‎03-09-2010

Is this covered by homeowners insurance?

homedecor1 · ‎03-09-2010

@151949

No only if catastrophic to my knowledge -- meaning if the whole house is impacted & condemned.

One needs to buy a separate policy for sinkhole coverage. Just like flood insurance very expensive!

This is always a concern for buyers after a episode is found or happened. It can happen anywhere in FL I understand😳

Carmie · ‎10-25-2010

We have sinkholes all over Pennsylvania, even a few streets over from our Capital Building in Harrisburg. The city has had over 40 large sinkholes. Streets are closed and homeowners are forced out. Many are caused by old underground pipes that are leaking.

Many people who can’t live in their homes until the streets get fixed are angry because they are still getting real estate taxes.

Years ago we had one at the bottom of the hill on our street. One time a delivery truck was parked there and was gobbled up by a sink hole. Thanks goodness the driver wasn’t in the truck.

Many are caused by underground springs that over time take the soil and make a big hole,that eventually collapses.

We have had a whole town that has been evacuated for years because there is an underground fire that has been burning for decades that causes sinkholes. The town is called Centralia.

They are so common here, that we are getting used to seeing them. No one bats an eye anymore. Thankfully, not many people have been harmed physically, but they are scary.

haddon9 · ‎03-09-2010

@Carmiewrote:
We have sinkholes all over Pennsylvania, even a few streets over from our Capital Building in Harrisburg. The city has had over 40 large sinkholes. Streets are closed and homeowners are forced out. Many are caused by old underground pipes that are leaking.

Many people who can’t live in their homes until the streets get fixed are angry because they are still getting real estate taxes.

Years ago we had one at the bottom of the hill on our street. One time a delivery truck was parked there and was gobbled up by a sink hole. Thanks goodness the driver wasn’t in the truck.

Many are caused by underground springs that over time take the soil and make a big hole,that eventually collapses.

We have had a whole town that has been evacuated for years because there is an underground fire that has been burning for decades that causes sinkholes. The town is called Centralia.

They are so common here, that we are getting used to seeing them. No one bats an eye anymore. Thankfully, not many people have been harmed physically, but they are scary.

Wow I knew about sinkholes in Fl but didn't realize that PA had them too. I'm in southeastern Pa, Bucks Co, and haven't heard of any of them here. It's very scary!