Sinkholes remain common in parts of Florida
Many homeowners near St. Petersburg, Florida, are dealing with sinkholes that have caused significant damage to their properties.
Local experts told the Tampa Times that parts of western Florida are known as "sinkhole alley." The problem stems from the geology of the area, because there are limestone caverns beneath the ground which allow soil to shift. In addition, a nearby lake left behind softer ground when it shrank, leading to additional sinkhole issues.
"Those sediments can decompose, and once that happens there is a change in mass and there can be subsidence,'' Harley Means, Florida's assistant state geologist, told the paper. "It'd be kind of like digging a hole and filling it with leaves and sticks and twigs and filling it over. As it rots and degrades, the land surface subsides.''
The paper reports that some area homeowners looking to stabilize their properties have seen repair bills of more than $100,000.
Homeowners insurance companies in the state have seen a significant jump in sinkhole claims in recent years. A previous Times report found many homeowners had received funds from their claims, but then never made repairs.
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