Both local and National media have recently reported that a Plant City woman exited her home and fell into a sinkhole. According to the reports, the woman was forced to dial 911, because she was unable to escape from the sinkhole under her own power and without assistance from law enforcement. The responding officer held the woman by her wrists, until fire rescue was ulitmately able to extract her from the hole. Fortunately, it does not appear from the media reports that anyone was seriously injured or that the family's home was seriously damaged or impacted.
While the story may appear strange, human encounters with sinkholes are more common than one may imagine. First, many of the lakes, springs, and ponds throughout the state had there genesis as sinkholes. Likewise, an aerial view of many areas of the state, including those known as "sinkhole alley," will reveal the presence of large circular depressions, similar in appearance to the craters present on the moon. Geologists describe they crater-like depressions as evidence of past, or relic, sinkhole activity.
I have my own recent experience with a sinkhole to recount to help drive home the ubiquitous nature of sinkhole activity in many parts of the state. Recently, while I leaving the Crawfish festival in Pinellas County after enjoying evening of Zaydeco music and Cajun culture (reminiscent of my college days at Tulane), I encountered a large circular depression in an open field and walked right through the middle of it. Although I tripped slightly as I entered into the depression, it did not occur to me, until the following day, that I most likely walked through a developing sinkhole. The point of the story is that, here, in Florida, sinkholes, and the evidence of them, are all around us and a part of what makes Florida unique and beautiful. After all, limestone geology and hydrology are part of what make Weeki Wachi, Crystal River, and Homossasa Springs such amazing, unique, and beautiful places.
This story of the woman falling into the sinkhole, while intriguing, imparts some important information about the formation of sinkholes in Florida. First, while cover collapse sinkholes are rarer, relatively speaking, than other forms of sinkholes, they, nevertheless, do occur in Florida and many times, simply because the cover of the earth has collapsed, the sinkhole may not be obvious. Second, periods of either heavy rain or drought often act as a catatalyst, activiting dormant sinkhole activity, causing a sudden cover collapse of the earth. Third, these cover collapse sinkholes often occur suddenly, unexpectedly, and without notice. Cover collapse sinkholes are unpredictable, in many respects. Homeowners in sinkhole prone areas would be wise to take these lessons to heart.
From the published photographs, it appears that the sinkhole the woman fell into was what is known as a "chimney" sink. Chimney sinks are generally small, circular sinkholes. A chimney sink is a form of "solution" sinkhole that is common to Florida geology. A chimney sink forms when water, traveling through the limestone and into the aquafer, erodes a small diameter opening in the limestone. The small opening is then in-filled with soils from above, causing a small circular opening in the earth. Rain, and the subsequent water traveling down by the force of gravity through the soil strata, carries soil into these openings in the limestone, which, in turn, results in the ground opening. This results is the formation of a small sinkhole, which extends from the surface, many times, down to the limestone, that takes the shape of a "chimney." Thus, these types of sinkholes are colloquially refered to by the epynomous name, "chimney" sink.
Under Florida law, for any sinkhole--whether it is a chimney sink or other form of sinkhole--to implicate an the sinkhole law and sinkhole coverage, the sinkhole must cause some structural damage to the building. Accordingly, a sinkhole in the middle of an open field that does not affect the structure of any building will most likely not trigger any coverage under a policy of insurance, even if it results in a cover collapse.
Sinkholes are often simply assoicated with the geological feature of the ground opening up or innocuous minor damage to buildings. However, the recent events reported in Plant City provide us with a reminder that sinkhole activity in Florida is oftentimes unexpected, sudden, and potentially dangerous to life and property. Most importantly, it is a reminder that sinkhole activity, although many times out of sight, should never be out of mind. For those that live in sinkhole prone areas or in Florida's "sinkhole alley," vigilance and regular property inspections are the rule for family safety and preservation of propery, particularly after periods of heavy rain or drought.
For further information on the dangers of sinkhole activity in Florida and for information on what to do in case you encounter sinkhole activity, please visit the Florida Department of Financial Services and view the available consumer guide at http://www.myfloridacfo.com/sitePages/services/flow.aspx?ut=Consumer+Guides. The cosumer guide entitled "What You Should Know About Sinkholes and Catastrophic Ground Cover Collapse" provides helfpul information about your potential encounter with one of Florida's most common geological features--the sinkhole.
Michael Laurato, Esq.
Austin & Laurato, P.A.
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