Map predicting sinkhole-prone areas closer to reality
By James L. Rosica, Tampa Tribune, Fla. | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
Last year,
Professionals with the
Their fieldwork contributed to a "relative vulnerability" map that so far has proved 93 percent successful in the pilot area in predicting that sinkholes will form, geologist
That figure was reverse-engineered by comparing the pilot's sinkhole predictions to where "subsidence events" actually did occur.
The predictions were at a countywide scale; science can't predict where and when an individual sinkhole will occur.
"They're prepared for floods. They're prepared for downed power lines," Baker said. But the sinkhole vulnerability map will provide even more preparation, this time for ground collapse.
The study next moves to the statewide phase. Kromhout and Baker plan to hire additional geologists and reach out to local governments, they said.
"The ultimate desire is to have a statewide map to reduce the risk of loss of life and property," Kromhout said.
The goal for the scale of the state map is at least the county level, but Kromhout said he hopes they will be able to get to a neighborhood-by-neighborhood detail.
Tropical Storm Debby was the inspiration for the study. Heavy rains from the 2012 storm caused dozens of sinkholes, especially in
Sinkholes are a particular threat for many
For example, of all sinkhole damage reported in the state from 2006 through 2010, two-thirds came from
Not every hole in the ground is a "sinkhole," however.
In May,
Other voids fit the description.
Sinkholes are common in
Over time, acid in the water dissolves the rock, creating a void. When the earth above the limestone gets too heavy, it can cave in, forming a sinkhole.
In April, a sinkhole between two residences at
In November, a sinkhole swallowed parts of two
In August, part of a three-story villa at
And in
The most famous sinkhole recently was not in
In February, a 60-foot-deep sinkhole opened under the
The museum was closed at the time and no one was injured, but the value of the cars alone was estimated at
The museum's board has decided to preserve part of the sinkhole as an attraction because news of the collapse boosted attendance by 60 percent.
This legislative session, a measure failed that would have created a sinkhole repair program for policyholders of
Its purpose: Ensure that sinkhole damage is fixed properly and within a reasonable time. Citizens, a nonprofit government corporation, is the insurer of last resort for
Lawmakers were concerned over homeowners getting a payout for a sinkhole but not using the money to repair the damage. Sinkhole claims also have stoked a number of lawsuits against the insurer by customers upset over bad repairs or ones that took too long.
Under the bill, sinkhole fixes would have had to be done by a contractor picked from a pool of bonded and insured repair companies approved by Citizens.
A version passed the House but died in the
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