Every creak, crack is suspect in Spring Hill

Worried residents are finding “sinkholes” even where they’re not. The county is checking them all out.

By JAMIE MALERNEE

© St. Petersburg Times,
published July 20, 2001

Map: What is the risk of sinkholes where you live? Sinkholes thwart home sellers Dozens opening up in Hernando County create worries about the real estate market and insurance coverage.

SPRING HILL -- The waiting and worrying continues in Sinkhole Central.

Thursday was a day of false alarms, with one family evacuating a house where the floor sunk and tiles began popping off walls.

Initially, everyone suspected a sinkhole. But by the end of the day, the house at 9627 Langan St. near Weeki Wachee was ruled a victim of routine structural flaws.

"It was just settling," county spokeswoman Brenda Frazier said.

The number of sinkholes stands at about 45; the number of complaints at about 80.

Thursday, engineers also finished drilling along a southern portion of Mariner Boulevard that remains closed. Today, technicians will analyze radar data, deciding if 10 "areas of concern" along the road are sinkholes waiting to happen.

If they are, the county must then decide the best way to fix them.

"The question is, do we purposefully cave it in and fill it, or do we drill down and insert this foam material?" said Mark Tobert, an emergency management technician.

Either option could prove pricey. Budget officials estimate sinkholes will cost the county at least $100,000.

"And we could still have more, for all we know," county budget director George Zoettlein said. For now, all expenses are being paid by individual departments, whose directors likely will ask the County Commission for reimbursement using reserve money.

"This is not something we budget for. This is like a hurricane. It happens and then we know how much it costs us," Zoettlein said. "Hopefully, this is not a recurring event."

A rainy weekend could increase the chances of more sinkholes to come, however, by adding weight to already shaky ground. Today will be partly cloudy with a 50 percent chance of showers. Saturday will be mostly cloudy, with a 70 percent likelihood of thunderstorms, the National Weather Service said. Sunday is predicted to be partly cloudy with a 50 percent chance of rain.

Previous coverage

Sinkhole worries have no limit

Reality unsettling for Spring Hill neighbors

Rains bring a dozen sinkholes to Spring Hill

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