Sink hole!

[raynan]

In Buttonwood off Arrobes Place in the Beecher Path area.

[graciegirl]

When you get a lot of rain it happens. Did it harm the home?

[janmcn]

In Buttonwood off Arrobes Place in the Beecher Path area.


Is it under a house, in the yard, or in the street? Tell us more.

[raynan]

At the corner of a house and starting to go under and the neighbor's house is quite close.

[janmcn]

Yikes, are the police there evacuating the area?

[raynan]

I haven't been over there yet. Got a phone call from someone in that neighborhood with a pix in the email. I'll check it out later on our way out and report back.

[TraceyMooreRN]

Can someone post a pic?

[Bogie Shooter]

Wouldn't be best if people stayed away from the scene??

[spk7951]

Story is on News 13 web site.

PHOTOS: Sinkhole growing, threatens 2 houses in The Villages (http://mynews13.com/content/news/cfnews13/news/article.html/content/news/articles/cfn/2014/4/19/sinkhole_growing_thr.html)

[dodaneodwyer]

Yikes!

[graciegirl]

Wonder if it is near the retention pond on Chalmer Terrace. They often are.

[gomoho]

...

[graciegirl]

...


Where was that? Whoops. it is gone.

[Patty55]

Does that house have a foundation? Where are the footings? I really know nothing about sink holes, did they suck in the foundation?

[buggyone]

This is the "Catastrophic Ground Collapse" in your homeowner insurance and usually has a $500 deductible. The home has to be declared unsafe to occupy. I think that is met for these houses.

This IS NOT what is covered in Sinkhole Insurance.

[TheVillageChicken]

The guy in the blue shirt has the potential to be a finalist for the Darwin Award.

[rdhdleo]

Scary!!!

[rdhdleo]

This is the "Catastrophic Ground Collapse" in your homeowner insurance and usually has a $500 deductible. The home has to be declared unsafe to occupy. I think that is met for these houses.

This IS NOT what is covered in Sinkhole Insurance.

Ok I am feeling really stupid on this subject, please can you explain the difference between catastrophic ground collapse and sinkhole? Appreciate it much!

[renielarson]

This must be why there is a helicopter hovering overhead very close to my house. I was wondering what was going on. YIKES!

[buggyone]

Ok I am feeling really stupid on this subject, please can you explain the difference between catastrophic ground collapse and sinkhole? Appreciate it much!

For the purpose of homeowner insurance - the sudden collapse of the ground like what happened at Buttonwood is covered. The "sinkhole coverage" is for the very gradual sinking of the ground that will put small cracks in walls, floors, etc and these will continue growing into larger and larger cracks. Sinkhole insurance is harder to find and has a high deductible. Catastrophic ground collapse is routinely covered and usually has the standard deductible. The foundation of the house must be compromised to pay a claim.

[rdhdleo]

For the purpose of homeowner insurance - the sudden collapse of the ground like what happened at Buttonwood is covered. The "sinkhole coverage" is for the very gradual sinking of the ground that will put small cracks in walls, floors, etc and these will continue growing into larger and larger cracks. Sinkhole insurance is harder to find and has a high deductible. Catastrophic ground collapse is routinely covered and usually has the standard deductible. The foundation of the house must be compromised to pay a claim.

Thank you so VERY much for clearing that up for me. Really appreciate your time!

[janmcn]

The address of one of the houses is 2057 Chalmer Terrace. The homes back up to the golf course. The retention pond is further down the street.

[gpirate]

Wonder if it is near the retention pond on Chalmer Terrace. They often are.

Does not appear near water, but near a golf course.

[TheVillageChicken]

Does not appear near water, but near a golf course.

It's a divot.

[John_W]

The address of one of the houses is 2057 Chalmer Terrace. The homes back up to the golf course. The retention pond is further down the street.

That is on the left side of the fairway to the 6th hole of Jacaranda nine at Cane Garden. For those that play Cane a lot, that's the hole that had a temporary green for a few months a little while ago.

That's about 600 yards north of us in Southern Star Villas. A helicopter has been hovering in place at about 800' directly above that site for at least 30 minutes or more. We can hear it loud & clear here. Channel 2 WESH News at 6:30 had a news story with about 45 seconds of video. It looked pretty severe. Channel 2 said a construction crew had been at the home working for about two weeks when this started. I'm wondering if that means they had foundation cracks, didn't say what they were working on.

[TicoTexan]

Tropical Storm Debby leaves sinkholes in the Villages

Photos showing several SMALLER sinkholes:

Tropical Storm Debby leaves sinkholes in the Villages | www.wftv.com (http://www.wftv.com/gallery/news/local/tropical-storm-debby-leaves-sinkholes-villages/gqWg/#2027851)

[Barefoot]

According to the online news, cement trucks are there filling the hole.
What a scary experience for the homeowners.
I feel so sorry for them.

[BarryRX]

How terrible for the families.

[graciegirl]

Bare and Barry. You are right. I can't imagine how frightening it must be.

[Nlnicholson]

Picture from Village news

[bluedog103]

According to WESH.com crews from the contractor Helicon USA had been working on that sinkhole for two weeks when a whole lot more dirt was swallowed up this morning.

[graciegirl]

According to WESH.com crews from the contractor Helicon USA had been working on that sinkhole for two weeks when a whole lot more dirt was swallowed up this morning.


From Helicon's site showing the many projects they have completed in Florida. Scary!



http://www.heliconfoundationrepair.com/wp-content/themes/modernize/images/landings/helicon-map-with-points.jpg

[Neal2tire]

just got back. Walked over as to not cause traffic. Many people are blocking the area with cars and carts. Police asked everyone to move back and surprising to me a few residents gave him a hard time. Odd. They are busy bringing in cement mixers one after another and they don't need people getting in the way. Watch it on TV

[Steve & Deanna]

Good point about gawkers rubber necking to see what's going on. These people should just get away and let those offering professional help do their work. Our prayers are with those affected.

[graciegirl]

just got back. Walked over as to not cause traffic. Many people are blocking the area with cars and carts. Police asked everyone to move back and surprising to me a few residents gave him a hard time. Odd. They are busy bringing in cement mixers one after another and they don't need people getting in the way. Watch it on TV


It is kind that you used the word odd. I think it is terribly self centered. Shame on them.

[dbussone]

Good point about gawkers rubber necking to see what's going on. These people should just get away and let those offering professional help do their work. Our prayers are with those affected.


Lots of prayers need to be offered! We have friends 2 houses away.

[KittyKat]

WFTV.com has some (10) pictures & story under "local news." Apparently this started 3 weeks ago and when it was smaller it was filled in then after the rain yesterday the hole really got big this morning. :pray:

[raynan]

Just got back from our "scavenger hunt" and decided not to go over there. While we were coming down St Charles earlier I saw the helicopter and several cars and carts headed that way and decided they didn't need me over there too. We live in the area just opposite them across the golf course. I feel very bad for the people whose homes are affected.
Nancy

[Phanatic Luvr]

We back up to St. Charles and my hubby has been noticing cement mixers (approx. 30 or more) going down St. Charles for the past week or more. Last night we went by this home, as one of our neighbors mentioned there was a sinkhole problem on Chalmer yesterday, and we did see where the area that is now the huge sinkhole, was filled with concrete. As I am typing this at 9:30pm, we are seeing cement truck after truck going down St. Charles. Scary!!!!!
Thoughts and prayers to those who own these homes.

[uprivergirl]

We are praying for the families and also the workers. We live in Ca. and saw it on our News. I was glad I already knew about it because of TOTV forum.

[raynan]

WESH2 and Channel 9 both reporting from there live on the 10 o'clock news. I'm sure it will be on again at 11.

[graciegirl]

Yikes!


I am bumping this thread to bring it to the top for Senior Citizen. I think she missed it and wasn't aware we all were aware of this very sad thing. Both homeowners are snowbirds and aren't here right now so thankfully they are not displaced.


Hopefully the caravan of cement trucks going on through the night is helping to remedy this.

[senior citizen]

This latest sink hole (which I posted a similar pic of earlier on the other sink hole thread, earlier this morning) is extremely frightening, to say the least. It's not a little mud puddle. It's nothing to pooh pooh over......esp. when people have invested so much money into their homes.......not to mention, it is not good for our own peace of mind and mental health...........


I keep thinking of that poor man in Brandon, Florida (near Tampa) who was swallowed up while sleeping, last year........so "Who knows for sure if it cannot happen under one's home".......or not. We are not God. A sink hole swallowed him up, bed and all and they could not reach him. The nightmare which his family went through is unimaginable.

I think it is good that people post the names of the villages where they have occurred in the past.........ditto for the television news and the major Florida newspapers.


It's actually all over the internet..........so no big secret, except to those of us out of state who have only heard about them in the last several years.


Prior to that, we had never ever heard of sinkholes..........but then we only vacationed on the coasts except for Disney World......and even Orlando had a super big one last year, whereby the resort was literally collapsing into the ground due to a major sinkhole.

Prospective home buyers have a "need to know" and disclosure should be made, not hidden in the dark shadows of secrecy.........to protect whom?


It is scary, to say the least. If you keep looking, they've happened all over Florida except on the barrier islands.............but for the most part, they are prevalent in CENTRAL FLORIDA out to the western part of the state. Buyer beware. At our age, who needs home damage, no matter how small it might look.............it's not a good sign of what's going on under the earth.

After seeing the landslides of late out west..........perhaps it just makes some of us jittery............and intelligent enough to want to check it out.......not negative or having our heads in the sand. We are too old for that. Too wise and too old to just want a peaceful existence in our older years. Who needs the excitement of having the earth beneath your home.......or to the side of your home........or to the front of your home, or back of your home, swallowed up???


http://www.ccfj.net/HOAvillsinkhole.htm (http://www.ccfj.net/HOAvillsinkhole.htm)


Click hyperlink above for a past sinkhole; yes, a dozen years ago, but still relevant to those of us wanting to buy a used home. Also read the one below this article......."Sinkholes plague the villages"...its the link at the bottom of the page (of above hyperlink). You can find others, and thus know whereabouts they have occurred. All of the major newspapers and t.v. channels covered the ones in the past as well as the ones happening currently.
　

[Bogie Shooter]

If sinkholes are a major concern to folks that are considering a move to Florida, perhaps they should just give up on that idea. Every area of the country has something to be fearful of. You cannot worry about something that you cannot control.

[Bogie Shooter]

This latest sink hole (which I posted a similar pic of earlier on the other sink hole thread, earlier this morning) is extremely frightening, to say the least. It's not a little mud puddle. It's nothing to pooh pooh over......esp. when people have invested so much money into their homes.......not to mention, it is not good for our own peace of mind and mental health...........


I keep thinking of that poor man in Brandon, Florida (near Tampa) who was swallowed up while sleeping, last year........so "Who knows for sure if it cannot happen under one's home".......or not. We are not God. A sink hole swallowed him up, bed and all and they could not reach him. The nightmare which his family went through is unimaginable.

I think it is good that people post the names of the villages where they have occurred in the past.........ditto for the television news and the major Florida newspapers.


It's actually all over the internet..........so no big secret, except to those of us out of state who have only heard about them in the last several years.


Prior to that, we had never ever heard of sinkholes..........but then we only vacationed on the coasts except for Disney World......and even Orlando had a super big one last year, whereby the resort was literally collapsing into the ground due to a major sinkhole.

Prospective home buyers have a "need to know" and disclosure should be made, not hidden in the dark shadows of secrecy.........to protect whom?


It is scary, to say the least. If you keep looking, they've happened all over Florida except on the barrier islands.............but for the most part, they are prevalent in CENTRAL FLORIDA out to the western part of the state. Buyer beware. At our age, who needs home damage, no matter how small it might look.............it's not a good sign of what's going on under the earth.

After seeing the landslides of late out west..........perhaps it just makes some of us jittery............and intelligent enough to want to check it out.......not negative or having our heads in the sand. We are too old for that. Too wise and too old to just want a peaceful existence in our older years. Who needs the excitement of having the earth beneath your home.......or to the side of your home........or to the front of your home, or back of your home, swallowed up???


http://www.ccfj.net/HOAvillsinkhole.htm (http://www.ccfj.net/HOAvillsinkhole.htm)


Click hyperlink above for a past sinkhole; yes, a dozen years ago, but still relevant to those of us wanting to buy a used home. Also read the one below this article......."Sinkholes plague the villages"...its the link at the bottom of the page (of above hyperlink). You can find others, and thus know whereabouts they have occurred. All of the major newspapers and t.v. channels covered the ones in the past as well as the ones happening currently.
　


You forgot to mention the Tsunami in Japan and the three other recent tsunami warning. Also the avalanche on Mt Everest. And.............

[raynan]

They can happen anywhere. Just before we moved here from MA (we lived on the RI border) there was a big one that swallowed up part of a strip mall. I remember the drugstore was on the end and the first to sink. It was after a major rainstorm.

[graciegirl]

This latest sink hole (which I posted a similar pic of earlier on the other sink hole thread, earlier this morning) is extremely frightening, to say the least. It's not a little mud puddle. It's nothing to pooh pooh over......esp. when people have invested so much money into their homes.......not to mention, it is not good for our own peace of mind and mental health...........


I keep thinking of that poor man in Brandon, Florida (near Tampa) who was swallowed up while sleeping, last year........so "Who knows for sure if it cannot happen under one's home".......or not. We are not God. A sink hole swallowed him up, bed and all and they could not reach him. The nightmare which his family went through is unimaginable.

I think it is good that people post the names of the villages where they have occurred in the past.........ditto for the television news and the major Florida newspapers.


It's actually all over the internet..........so no big secret, except to those of us out of state who have only heard about them in the last several years.


Prior to that, we had never ever heard of sinkholes..........but then we only vacationed on the coasts except for Disney World......and even Orlando had a super big one last year, whereby the resort was literally collapsing into the ground due to a major sinkhole.

Prospective home buyers have a "need to know" and disclosure should be made, not hidden in the dark shadows of secrecy.........to protect whom?


It is scary, to say the least. If you keep looking, they've happened all over Florida except on the barrier islands.............but for the most part, they are prevalent in CENTRAL FLORIDA out to the western part of the state. Buyer beware. At our age, who needs home damage, no matter how small it might look.............it's not a good sign of what's going on under the earth.

After seeing the landslides of late out west..........perhaps it just makes some of us jittery............and intelligent enough to want to check it out.......not negative or having our heads in the sand. We are too old for that. Too wise and too old to just want a peaceful existence in our older years. Who needs the excitement of having the earth beneath your home.......or to the side of your home........or to the front of your home, or back of your home, swallowed up???


http://www.ccfj.net/HOAvillsinkhole.htm (http://www.ccfj.net/HOAvillsinkhole.htm)


Click hyperlink above for a past sinkhole; yes, a dozen years ago, but still relevant to those of us wanting to buy a used home. Also read the one below this article......."Sinkholes plague the villages"...its the link at the bottom of the page (of above hyperlink). You can find others, and thus know whereabouts they have occurred. All of the major newspapers and t.v. channels covered the ones in the past as well as the ones happening currently.
　




This morning's Daily Sun Front page

[Bogie Shooter]

I guess we can eliminate the conspiracy theory.

[billethkid]

I will take living in FL with sinkholes and hurricanes any day over living in California with earthquakes waiting for the "big one".

[patty24]

Can someone post a pic?

Just google sinkholes latest news in The villages-----Lots of info , pictures and video's

[asianthree]

If sinkholes are a major concern to folks that are considering a move to Florida, perhaps they should just give up on that idea. Every area of the country has something to be fearful of. You cannot worry about something that you cannot control.

So true Bogie

[Kahuna32162]

The Good News is that they are reporting that the mixture of sand and asphalt, 40 trucks worth, that was poured into the hole has stabilized the homes and they should be to shore up the foundations properly on Monday.

[Villageshooter]

will be some real bargins on homes for sale in that area! home values will plumett in that area till the next big sinkhole happens! last summer they almost lost the bridge that goes over lake sumpter to a sinhole on the south end!

[Villageshooter]

This morning's Daily Sun Front page

all this is so sad we come here to live out our golden years and this is a huge life threating issue for us! i still love it here! at least this cant be blamed on the morris family!

[alwann]

Who pays for filling the sink hole? I know homeowners insurance covers catastrophic loss due to sinkhole, but what about all those truck loads of concrete being dumped into this new hole. Who pays for that?

[Cedwards38]

Don't most, if not all HO policies cover sinkhole damage to the structure?

[buggyone]

all this is so sad we come here to live out our golden years and this is a huge life threating issue for us! i still love it here! at least this cant be blamed on the morris family!

Where is Lake SUMPTER and who is the MORRIS family?

[perrjojo]

There was recently a large sink hole in Kentucky that swallowed up a large number of Corvettes in the Covette Mueseum. Sink holes are more preveloent in Florida but can happen anywhere. Of course we have hurricanes and sink holes here but other areas have them as well. I don't think it has ever been a secret that our area is prone to sink holes. We first visited here in 2000 and it was on the news about 2 homes damaged in Lady Lake by a sink hole.
Other areas have earth quakes, tornados, floods, etc, landslides, etc. your safety cannot be guaranteed in any home because there are fires, gas leaks, carbon monoxide, etc. I do not choose to put my head in the sand but I also do not choose to live life in perpetual fear of some unknow catastrophe.

[Topspinmo]

sink hole in Kentucky that swallowed up a large number of Corvettes in the Covette Mueseum"
Yes, but if I remember correctly they were man made (city water main leaking) and just like the Big one in Central America I think what determined that one.

Florida sinkholes IMO are natural disaster's due to the makeup of the earth under Florida just like Hurricane's, Hail, wind, wild fires, tornado's IMO.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Wonder if it is near the retention pond on Chalmer Terrace. They often are.

No, it's further down the street near the green of the golf hole that runs behind the homes.

[samhass]

will be some real bargins on homes for sale in that area! home values will plumett in that area till the next big sinkhole happens! last summer they almost lost the bridge that goes over lake sumpter to a sinhole on the south end!

Is there any proof that a sinkhole occurred under or around the bridge that crosses Lake Sumter?

[Cathy H]

When you get a lot of rain it happens. Did it harm the home?
The Easter sunday edition of our local Sun describes a sinkhole in the 2000 block of Chalmer Terrace in TV as being under repair for the past 3 weeks that just opened up some more and needs more repair (with a photo of a big hole). But, not to worry, the homeowners are snowbirds (gone away) and no life was threatened.
Oh, that darned rain again.

[Cathy H]

The Easter sunday copy of our daily sun local paper has a front page article about sink holes and says that a sinkhole in the 2000 block of chalmer terrace in TV had been under repair for the past 3 weeks but just got bigger, but homeowners are apparently snowbirds, not home when it sank, and no lives lost.
Oh, that darned rain again.

[NottaVillager]

This news has travelled VERY fast. Last night I got an email from a good friend in upstate NY asking me if we lived anywhere near this. He had seen it on a story on one of his local TV stations. This is going to throw a great big wrench in The Villages Myth-Making Machine.

[graciegirl]

This news has travelled VERY fast. Last night I got an email from a good friend in upstate NY asking me if we lived anywhere near this. He had seen it on a story on one of his local TV stations. This is going to throw a great big wrench in The Villages Myth-Making Machine.



Myth-Making Machine?
Gary Morse isn't in charge of natural disasters.


West of us is even worse for sinkholes. Tampa is the worst. See here?
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m141/farmerzgrl/SinkholeActivityMap1954-2004.jpg

[janmcn]

Is there any proof that a sinkhole occurred under or around the bridge that crosses Lake Sumter?


https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/villages-florida-non-villages-discussion-93/bridge-sinking-34024/

This was discussed on this forum back in 2010. There are other threads on the subject, just do a search.

[Villageshooter]

This news has travelled VERY fast. Last night I got an email from a good friend in upstate NY asking me if we lived anywhere near this. He had seen it on a story on one of his local TV stations. This is going to throw a great big wrench in The Villages Myth-Making Machine.

the myth-making machine was so far ahead of this they were on top of it 3weeks before they told us about it! they can see into the future! i just wish they could tell me what the lotto number are going to be tonite!

[NoMoSno]

If you believe this article, South Florida will be an island. :22yikes:
Maybe we will have waterfront property soon.

Massive Sinkhole Threatens to Rip Florida in Half*|*GlossyNews.com (http://glossynews.com/top-stories/201303030624/massive-sinkhole-threatens-to-rip-florida-in-half/)

[Cathy H]

The sink hole in he 2000 block of Chalmers terrace in V was under repair for 3 weeks by a pro firm but it opened up again.
Oh, that darned rain.

[Steve9930]

For the purpose of homeowner insurance - the sudden collapse of the ground like what happened at Buttonwood is covered. The "sinkhole coverage" is for the very gradual sinking of the ground that will put small cracks in walls, floors, etc and these will continue growing into larger and larger cracks. Sinkhole insurance is harder to find and has a high deductible. Catastrophic ground collapse is routinely covered and usually has the standard deductible. The foundation of the house must be compromised to pay a claim.

Once the house is declared uninhabitable by the local building authority then a Catastrophic Ground Collapse Claim will be issued. I would believe from he pictures I saw that both houses are going to qualify. What I'm not clear on in the insurance side is whether the Insurance Company pays to repair or is the House Condemned and they issue you a check? Even if you fixed the problem how could you ever believe you could sell the home down the road?

[Steve9930]

Sink Holes are just part of living in Florida. They can happen anywhere at anytime. More so after large amounts of rain. The Lime Stone under the sand we are living on gets soft and collapses into the aquifer below. Just like sand in a hour glass afer that.

[samhass]

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/villages-florida-non-villages-discussion-93/bridge-sinking-34024/

This was discussed on this forum back in 2010. There are other threads on the subject, just do a search.

It may have been discussed many times. I am asking if anyone has proof that a sinkhole existed in that particular spot. If so, can you please provide a link?

[TVMayor]

the myth-making machine was so far ahead of this they were on top of it 3weeks before they told us about it! they can see into the future! i just wish they could tell me what the lotto number are going to be tonite!

For lotto numbers I would suggest you look in the fortune cookies at the Evergreen Buffet.

[GatorFan]

No one knows or can predict when a sinkhole or catastrophic ground collapse will occur. It can happen anywhere.

[bimmertl]

Once the house is declared uninhabitable by the local building authority then a Catastrophic Ground Collapse Claim will be issued. I would believe from he pictures I saw that both houses are going to qualify. What I'm not clear on in the insurance side is whether the Insurance Company pays to repair or is the House Condemned and they issue you a check? Even if you fixed the problem how could you ever believe you could sell the home down the road?

No condemnation.

Villages sinkhole filled - Orlando Sentinel (http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/os-villages-sinkhole-filled-in-20140420,0,6920324.story)

[janmcn]

Once the house is declared uninhabitable by the local building authority then a Catastrophic Ground Collapse Claim will be issued. I would believe from he pictures I saw that both houses are going to qualify. What I'm not clear on in the insurance side is whether the Insurance Company pays to repair or is the House Condemned and they issue you a check? Even if you fixed the problem how could you ever believe you could sell the home down the road?


I must be missing something, but I don't see a scratch on either house. A catastrophic ground collapse occurs when a house falls into the sinkhole, which is what happened in Seffner when that unfortunate young man was sucked right out of his bed into the hole and his house plus the two adjacent houses were torn down.

Somebody's insurance company just paid tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of dollars to have that hole filled. It's very doubtful they would turn around and pay another couple hundred thousand plus for the house and have it demolished and hauled away.

Insurance companies in Florida don't like paying money on claims. In fact, Citizens, the state run insurance, spent more money last year fighting claims than they did paying claims.

[jpharmat]

Thoughts go out to those involved. It must be so scary to have to go through something like this. Hope the involved families have some support.

[NottaVillager]

Myth-Making Machine?
Gary Morse isn't in charge of natural disasters.


West of us is even worse for sinkholes. Tampa is the worst. See here?
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m141/farmerzgrl/SinkholeActivityMap1954-2004.jpg
No he's not. But when a story like this gets on the national news wires (which it has) that is NOT good news for TV PR Machine. It will have to go into overdrive to overcome the media meme that TV is not a safe place to live.

[raynan]

If you start eliminating all the areas that have natural disasters there's not many other places to go. It's how the repair is handled (speed and quality) that is more important to someone looking to buy (in my opinion).

[Bogie Shooter]

No he's not. But when a story like this gets on the national news wires (which it has) that is NOT good news for TV PR Machine. It will have to go into overdrive to overcome the media meme that TV is not a safe place to live.

No need to worry......................

[Steve9930]

I must be missing something, but I don't see a scratch on either house. A catastrophic ground collapse occurs when a house falls into the sinkhole, which is what happened in Seffner when that unfortunate young man was sucked right out of his bed into the hole and his house plus the two adjacent houses were torn down.

Somebody's insurance company just paid tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of dollars to have that hole filled. It's very doubtful they would turn around and pay another couple hundred thousand plus for the house and have it demolished and hauled away.

Insurance companies in Florida don't like paying money on claims. In fact, Citizens, the state run insurance, spent more money last year fighting claims than they did paying claims.

I went back and read my home owners policy. It basically states to be covered under the Catastrophic Ground Collapse the foundation of the home needs to be compromised to the point where the local authorities deem the house uninhabitable. What is amazing in the photo is the portion of the driveway with nothing under the driveway slab and its still intact. I hope I never have to deal with something such as what I see in the pictures.

[senior citizen]

http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/video/sinkhole-stunner-florida-23401590 (http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/video/sinkhole-stunner-florida-23401590)


David Muir, ABC Sunday Evening National News, commented on the sinkhole in The Villages, Florida.


However......he did not name The Villages.....it was just called "a suburb outside of Orlando."


Same photos as were posted earlier for The Villages sinkhole.


See above hyperlink for "Sinkhole Stunner in Florida" video from ABC Sunday evening news....2 hours ago.
Let the short commercial run first.

[tommy steam]

The Good News is that they are reporting that the mixture of sand and asphalt, 40 trucks worth, that was poured into the hole has stabilized the homes and they should be to shore up the foundations properly on Monday.
I guess the insurance will cover it ,but I wonder what it is costing to do something like that?

[Barefoot]

.... when a story like this gets on the national news wires (which it has) that is NOT good news for TV PR Machine. It will have to go into overdrive to overcome the media meme that TV is not a safe place to live.


If sinkholes are a major concern to folks that are considering a move to Florida, perhaps they should just give up on that idea. Every area of the country has something to be fearful of. You cannot worry about something that you cannot control.

I feel very sorry for the families involved in the Buttonwood sinkhole.

However the sky is not falling.
The State of Florida (and particularly The Villages) will continue to be a sought-after destination by retirees.

[Neal2tire]

We were concerned when we were buying in Buttonwood a few years back so I flew my in laws in for a few days and asked my mother in law to stand on the lawn of the house we were looking at. After a few minutes of her jumping up and down I felt the chance of anything collapsing in the future was slim to none.
NG

[2BNTV]

In today's Daily Sun, (Sunday),, affecting two homeowners.

In the process, of fixing it! Paper stated it was not a dangerous one, and could be repair easily.

If it was me, I would move, but they still have to disclose, there was a sinkhole.

[gamby]

Insurance does not cover the lot, only the dwelling so if your house is totaled you only get ins payment for the house.

I noticed that sink holes that develop on houses are at the corners where the roof drains empty , ( just caught my attention ).

[DougB]

We were concerned when we were buying in Buttonwood a few years back so I flew my in laws in for a few days and asked my mother in law to stand on the lawn of the house we were looking at. After a few minutes of her jumping up and down I felt the chance of anything collapsing in the future was slim to none.
NG

I guess that explains the tremors I felt.

[tucson]

http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/video/sinkhole-stunner-florida-23401590 (http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/video/sinkhole-stunner-florida-23401590)


David Muir, ABC Sunday Evening National News, commented on the sinkhole in The Villages, Florida.


However......he did not name The Villages.....it was just called "a suburb outside of Orlando."


Same photos as were posted earlier for The Villages sinkhole.


See above hyperlink for "Sinkhole Stunner in Florida" video from ABC Sunday evening news....2 hours ago.
Let the short commercial run first.



The same thing happened when the major tornado hit the Villages in 2007 and demolished many homes here. The major news channels mentioned Lady Lake and concentrated on the news story there, omitted The Villages from the story.... also heard Katie Couric who was working for NBC then, wasn't allowed to do come here to film & do a story....

[senior citizen]

The same thing happened when the major tornado hit the Villages in 2007 and demolished many homes here. The major news channels mentioned Lady Lake and concentrated on the news story there, omitted The Villages from the story.... also heard Katie Couric who was working for NBC then, wasn't allowed to do come here to film & do a story....


Actually, I can't even find a word to express what I'm feeling about this suppression of the true and total news. Personally, I do not consider TV a "suburb" of Orlando. It was quite a drive from the airport, actually.

I guess everyone wants to keep a "pristine" image of their beloved hometown, however, smart folks catch on really fast as the truth is uncovered and shared.

God only knows our Governor let it "all hang out" about the heroin epidemic in our state, once considered "God's Country". Our news even made the New York Times.

People will make their own educated decisions, one way or another.
Especially those who've lived here 50 years or more and know what it
used to be...........before the city gangs came up to sell their drugs.

Our problem is surmountable thanks to the drug task force and irate stance of our people who do not want these gangs coming up to our state......however, MOTHER NATURE IS ANOTHER STORY. Difficult to deal with natural disasters..........and I include sinkholes in natural disaster category. Very sad scenario for the homeowner, even with adequate insurance. Who would want to buy that home and that property? WE were looking for a gently used home, if truth be told.

Thanks for sharing your info.

[Bogie Shooter]

[QUOTE=senior citizen;865517]Actually, I can't even find a word to express what I'm feeling about this suppression of the true and total news. Personally, I do not consider TV a "suburb" of Orlando. It was quite a drive from the airport, actually.


QUOTE]

I think you should take this up with David Muir, ABC Sunday Evening National News. Ask them about the suppression. Report back and let us know.

[Bogie Shooter]

Actually, I can't even find a word to express what I'm feeling about this suppression of the true and total news. Personally, I do not consider TV a "suburb" of Orlando. It was quite a drive from the airport, actually.

I guess everyone wants to keep a "pristine" image of their beloved hometown, however, smart folks catch on really fast as the truth is uncovered and shared.

God only knows our Governor let it "all hang out" about the heroin epidemic in our state, once considered "God's Country". Our news even made the New York Times.

People will make their own educated decisions, one way or another.
Especially those who've lived here 50 years or more and know what it
used to be...........before the city gangs came up to sell their drugs.

Our problem is surmountable thanks to the drug task force and irate stance of our people who do not want these gangs coming up to our state......however, MOTHER NATURE IS ANOTHER STORY. Difficult to deal with natural disasters..........and I include sinkholes in natural disaster category. Very sad scenario for the homeowner, even with adequate insurance. Who would want to buy that home and that property? WE were looking for a gently used home, if truth be told.

Thanks for sharing your info.

Have you stopped looking just because of this sinkhole?

[kagney123]

We were concerned when we were buying in Buttonwood a few years back so I flew my in laws in for a few days and asked my mother in law to stand on the lawn of the house we were looking at. After a few minutes of her jumping up and down I felt the chance of anything collapsing in the future was slim to none.
NG

LoL refreshing humor thanks for the giggle

[graciegirl]

Ya wanta see something totally misleading??? See this article and where in the heck did they get this picture? I read it three times and the first paragraph made it look as if it fell in, again. It was dated yesterday.


You can't believe everything you read. Some journalists are much more sensational than others. WOW.


Florida Sinkhole Swallows Family Yard, Driveway Hours After It Was Completely Filled In [+VIDEO] : News : TravelersToday (http://www.travelerstoday.com/articles/9548/20140420/florida-sinkhole-swallows-family-yard-driveway-hours-completely-filled.htm)

[BobnBev]

The same thing happened when the major tornado hit the Villages in 2007 and demolished many homes here. The major news channels mentioned Lady Lake and concentrated on the news story there, omitted The Villages from the story.... also heard Katie Couric who was working for NBC then, wasn't allowed to do come here to film & do a story....

$$$$$$$$$$Money Talks$$$$$$$$$$

No bad publicity about our bubble.:boom:chilout

[graciegirl]

Tucson ;"The same thing happened when the major tornado hit the Villages in 2007 and demolished many homes here. The major news channels mentioned Lady Lake and concentrated on the news story there, omitted The Villages from the story.... also heard Katie Couric who was working for NBC then, wasn't allowed to do come here to film & do a story" Unquote
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

How is gonna stop the press? The streets belong to the public.


I think the real reason is that STILL a lot of people don't know where we ARE. Read national news on this sinkhole that says we are a suburb of Orlando. THEY WISH. We are now more populous than Ocala and Palm Beach but still demographers don't know that. No one can believe the growth here in the last FIVE years. We are on the map, but we aren't really on the map.


The Morses don't need to surpress anything for fear of losing sales. Those lots not yet graded in the new area are already SOLD in the sense that people are committed to live here and waiting to buy. Someone told me that just last week they were seventh in line to buy a brand new villa.



We can handle bad publicity. Many of us love this place for no reason other than it is loveable and it is our home. We are Villages STRONG.

Bump. I quoted Bob and Bev and meant to quote Tucson. Alright. alright I am waaaaaaaaay too defensive of this place. Sorry

Senior, I live here and naturally love this place. How could you not?

[Steve9930]

I guess the insurance will cover it ,but I wonder what it is costing to do something like that?

I'm guessing at $500 per truck load times 40 trucks = $20, 000 in material alone. Maybe more maybe less?? Plus wages for how many people, repair to the foundation, driveway, and underground piping that I saw? Not a cheap Date for sure! I went through the internet and tried to find an average cost for one of these repairs. The best guess on average, depending on the hole involved, I saw a quote between $25k to $50K. But it could go into 6 figures. The best repair is grout with under pinning of the foundation. I also saw where you have to disclose the fact that there was a sinkhole and the type of repair when you sell the home. I hope I never have to find out how this all plays out.

[dewilson58]

How is gonna stop the press? The streets belong to the public. You know I like you guys to pieces, but am a little doubtful of that.


I think the real reason is that STILL a lot of people don't know where we ARE. Read national news on this sinkhole that says we are a suburb of Orlando. THEY WISH. We are now more populous than Ocala and Palm Beach but still demographers don't know that. No one can believe the growth here in the last FIVE years. We are on the map, but we aren't really on the map.


The Morses don't need to surpress anything for fear of losing sales. Those lots not yet graded in the new area are already SOLD in the sense that people are committed to live here and waiting to buy. Someone told me that just last week they were seventh in line to buy a brand new villa.



We can handle bad publicity. Many of us love this place for no reason other than it is loveable and it is our home. We are Villages STRONG.


Don't be mad. I didn't mean to offend you.


Yep, Yep, Yep.

I feel for those involved.

Feel good stories just don't sell papers and commercials.

[Bogie Shooter]

$$$$$$$$$$Money Talks$$$$$$$$$$

No bad publicity about our bubble.:boom:chilout

How is gonna stop the press? The streets belong to the public. You know I like you guys to pieces, but am a little doubtful of that.


I think the real reason is that STILL a lot of people don't know where we ARE. Read national news on this sinkhole that says we are a suburb of Orlando. THEY WISH. We are now more populous than Ocala and Palm Beach but still demographers don't know that. No one can believe the growth here in the last FIVE years. We are on the map, but we aren't really on the map.


The Morses don't need to surpress anything for fear of losing sales. Those lots not yet graded in the new area are already SOLD in the sense that people are committed to live here and waiting to buy. Someone told me that just last week they were seventh in line to buy a brand new villa.



We can handle bad publicity. Many of us love this place for no reason other than it is loveable and it is our home. We are Villages STRONG.


Don't be mad. I didn't mean to offend you.

I don't see how they could be offended.

[Mr.Big]

As a regular winter renter in The Villages, I can also say that I have seen sink holes here in East Tennessee, and actually around some upscale patio homes. If a big ole sink hole gets me down there in the winter, well, I will still be happy. I love The Villages in the winter! See you in January 2015; thats if a tornado does not get me up here in Tennessee!:D

[Tennisnut]

Hopefully no one is too worried if these two homes disappear since, as of today, The Villages has 489 new homes for sale!

[e-flyer]

It's sad that when you go to sell a house that has had sink hole remediation, you might have a hard time selling it, and most likely get less than the market value if it does sell. There is a new house north of us that still hasn't sold even discounted $15K+ because it had a sink hole in the yard. In my mind, the ground the house sits on is probably more stable now that the sink is filled, and foundation pinned verses than other areas in TV. I feel for the folks who were unfortunate enough to have this event happen.

[perrjojo]

Tucson ;"The same thing happened when the major tornado hit the Villages in 2007 and demolished many homes here. The major news channels mentioned Lady Lake and concentrated on the news story there, omitted The Villages from the story.... also heard Katie Couric who was working for NBC then, wasn't allowed to do come here to film & do a story" Unquote
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

How is gonna stop the press? The streets belong to the public.


I think the real reason is that STILL a lot of people don't know where we ARE. Read national news on this sinkhole that says we are a suburb of Orlando. THEY WISH. We are now more populous than Ocala and Palm Beach but still demographers don't know that. No one can believe the growth here in the last FIVE years. We are on the map, but we aren't really on

The Morses don't need to surpress anything for fear of [U]losing sales. Those lots not yet graded in the new area are already SOLD in the sense that people are committed to live here and waiting to buy. Someone told me that just last week they were seventh in line to buy a brand new villa.


We can handle bad publicity. Many of us love this place for no reason other than it is loveable and it is our home. We are Villages STRONG.

Bump. I quoted Bob and Bev and meant to quote Tucson. [B]Alright. alright I am waaaaaaaaay too defensive of this place. Sorry

Senior, I live here and naturally love this place. How could you not?
Gracie, you are so correct that most of the world doesn't know where The Villages is. I used to live in Arlington, Texas which is midway between Dallas and Ft.Worth. Arlington is home to the Dallas Cowboys stadium and the Texas Rangers Ball Park. For years the radio and TV sports announcers always referd to them playing in Dallas. It really did peeve us folks in Arlington after we paid so much tax money to get name recognition for our city. It's not news suppression, it's lazy reporters. :pepper2::pepper2:

[Bogie Shooter]

It's sad that when you go to sell a house that has had sink hole remediation, you might have a hard time selling it, and most likely get less than the market value if it does sell. There is a new house north of us that still hasn't sold even discounted $15K+ because it had a sink hole in the yard. In my mind, the ground the house sits on is probably more stable now that the sink is filled, and foundation pinned verses than other areas in TV. I feel for the folks who were unfortunate enough to have this event happen.

The company doing the work on the latest sinkhole, Helicon, backs up their work with a warranty.
We Guarantee Our Work With a Firm Foundation Warranty » Helicon Foundation Repair of Tampa (http://www.heliconfoundationrepair.com/firm-foundation-warranty/)

[perrjojo]

As a regular winter renter in The Villages, I can also say that I have seen sink holes here in East Tennessee, and actually around some upscale patio homes. If a big ole sink hole gets me down there in the winter, well, I will still be happy. I love The Villages in the winter! See you in January 2015; thats if a tornado does not get me up here in Tennessee!:D
I'm looking forward to your visit.:clap2:

[janmcn]

It's sad that when you go to sell a house that has had sink hole remediation, you might have a hard time selling it, and most likely get less than the market value if it does sell. There is a new house north of us that still hasn't sold even discounted $15K+ because it had a sink hole in the yard. In my mind, the ground the house sits on is probably more stable now that the sink is filled, and foundation pinned verses than other areas in TV. I feel for the folks who were unfortunate enough to have this event happen.


It would be interesting to find out if a buyer could get sinkhole insurance on this house which already had some sinkhole activity. It sounds like a really good deal. Maybe that's why nobody is buying it. People are afraid they'll see their entire investment sink into the ground.

[eweissenbach]

It's sad that when you go to sell a house that has had sink hole remediation, you might have a hard time selling it, and most likely get less than the market value if it does sell. There is a new house north of us that still hasn't sold even discounted $15K+ because it had a sink hole in the yard. In my mind, the ground the house sits on is probably more stable now that the sink is filled, and foundation pinned verses than other areas in TV. I feel for the folks who were unfortunate enough to have this event happen.

Our friends looked at that new home, and were VERY interested....until their agent Tony Trussler disclosed that it had a repaired sinkhole, and insurance would likely be expensive. There was another seemingly good buy new home which also had a repaired sinkhole. I think that these homes are probably less likely to have a problem than any other in the area, but still hard to pull the trigger on a purchase of a home with proven sinkhole problems.

[Kelsie52]

We live right next door to this home ..It was a little scarrrrry for several hours . ---Speaking to the engineers working on the repair --they tell us that this home will never have to worry about sinkhole again --it will be secure

They have already poured over 1000 yards of cement around the home ..

we also feel blessed we didnt buy that lot !!!!!

[mcgivney.Jim@gmail.com]

Feed the sink hole more Corvettes.

[gomoho]

We live right next door to this home ..It was a little scarrrrry for several hours . ---Speaking to the engineers working on the repair --they tell us that this home will never have to worry about sinkhole again --it will be secure

They have already poured over 1000 yards of cement around the home ..

we also feel blessed we didnt buy that lot !!!!!

I think that sounds good, but what I don't understand is how the concrete they poured and the foundation they have supported will help the house if a sinkhole occurs in the rear of the property. Did they secure the home all the way around or just the area where the sink hole is?

[TVMayor]

this home will never have to worry about sinkhole again --it will be secure
So what happens if the house is 100% unharmed, windows not broken and it rests at the bottom of a 70 foot deep hole with a 1000 yard cement cylinder lying beside it on its side like an empty beer can?

[chuckinca]

We live right next door to this home ..It was a little scarrrrry for several hours . ---Speaking to the engineers working on the repair --they tell us that this home will never have to worry about sinkhole again --it will be secure

They have already poured over 1000 yards of cement around the home ..

we also feel blessed we didnt buy that lot !!!!!



1000 cubic yards of light weight concrete delivered, pumped and placed:

$200/CY +/-

Chuck
retired concrete estimator

.

[janmcn]

According to The Villages on-line news, Helicon Property Restoration President Jay Silver said 400 cubic yards of grout were used to fill the 60 feet deep by 60 feet wide sinkhole at a cost of between $200,000 and $300,000. The total bill will be paid 100% by the homeowner's property insurance.

Read the article on-line on their website.

[gomoho]

OMG - soon this will be worse than hurricane insurance!!!

[tommy steam]

Our friends looked at that new home, and were VERY interested....until their agent Tony Trussler disclosed that it had a repaired sinkhole, and insurance would likely be expensive. There was another seemingly good buy new home which also had a repaired sinkhole. I think that these homes are probably less likely to have a problem than any other in the area, but still hard to pull the trigger on a purchase of a home with proven sinkhole problems.

With so many new and pre owned homes in the villages why would you choose one that had sink hole repair. My thoughts were that the ground under it was probably more stable after the repair, but if you had to sell the home it might be difficult. I don't want to gamble with 300k.

[EnglishJW]

Gracie, you are so correct that most of the world doesn't know where The Villages is. I used to live in Arlington, Texas which is midway between Dallas and Ft.Worth. Arlington is home to the Dallas Cowboys stadium and the Texas Rangers Ball Park. For years the radio and TV sports announcers always referd to them playing in Dallas. It really did peeve us folks in Arlington after we paid so much tax money to get name recognition for our city. It's not news suppression, it's lazy reporters. :pepper2::pepper2:

I hear you. We live in New Jersey - home of the New YORK Giants & New YORK Jets.

[perrjojo]

I hear you. We live in New Jersey - home of the New YORK Giants & New YORK Jets.
Well, there you go! I didn't know that. I guess Arlington is not discriminated against. As the say, if it's on the internet , it must be true. Bonjour!

Joking aside, I don't think the news about the Villages has ever been deliberately suppressed..we just sometimes don't get all of the facts. Next time I watch the Jets or Giants I will tell everyone they are really in New Jersey.

[NottaVillager]

With so many new and pre owned homes in the villages why would you choose one that had sink hole repair. My thoughts were that the ground under it was probably more stable after the repair, but if you had to sell the home it might be difficult. I don't want to gamble with 300k.
If the home is sold, it will most likely be uninsurable with any normal Florida insurance carrier. Which means the insurer of last resort..Citizens Property Insurance of Florida run by the state, which is like buying car insurance after you've been convicted of a DWI. It's E-X-P-E-N-S-I-V-E!!

When we first looked at homes down here our agent at Villages Insurance told us to have her check each home we wanted BEFORE we got really interested because if a home EVER had any sort of sink hole claim, normal insurers won't touch it.

[chuckinca]

Sounds like a good place for a new small neighborhood watermelon patch.

.

[jimbo2012]

Maybe a reverse mortgage would be a good idea.;)

[Bogie Shooter]

////

[gustavo]

Chopper over sinkhole area in buttonwood this morning. Another cavein?

[raynan]

That's what I was wondering. The choppers are hovering and woke me up.

[raynan]

It's on the news again! Says the sinkhole is growing. Channel 9.

[raynan]

The fill that was put in has dropped 6ft and the hole has expanded (according to Channel 9). Chalmer Terrace is closed and the fire dept is on site.

[NECHFalcon68]

If you put a 5 million pound plug in a hole, what do you think will happen?

[asianthree]

Is there not an official from the company reporting or just a news guy

[Bogie Shooter]

Is there not an official from the company reporting or just a news guy

Video shows the drop. But, maybe that was expected by the company. I too would rather hear from them.

[asianthree]

Video shows the drop. But, maybe that was expected by the company. I too would rather hear from them.

thanks bogie i would think that there would be a drop as the concrete settles in and around the sink hole as the concrete cures

[CSwofford147@comcast.net]

The problem is not that you can change what is going on, but that you can not always get insurance for the problem and could easily be on the hook for $100,000 dollars if your home is not condemned

[Steph]

I'm in California - waiting for this house to sell so I can move and join the fun but saw on Good Morning America that the sinkhole of a few days ago has reopened, even with the cement in it, and is even deeper. Does anyone know if this is true? And if so, is this the village where most of the new homes are being built? Thanks. I'll be there soon sinkhole or not!

[NoMoSno]

Photos:

Photos: Villages sinkhole opens up again | www.wftv.com (http://www.wftv.com/gallery/news/local/photos-villages-sinkhole-opens-again/gCKNW/#5148985)

[chuckinca]

Not to worry - Helicon's work guarantee will cover the additional cost.

Anybody want to buy a bridge?

.

[Steve9930]

The problem is not that you can change what is going on, but that you can not always get insurance for the problem and could easily be on the hook for $100,000 dollars if your home is not condemned

It can be fixed and made inhabitable again. It will also be the safest house when it comes to sink holes. The problem is can you convince an insurance company or a buyer? Not only will the two homes involved suffer but the surrounding area takes a hit. Unfortunately building a home in Florida means you are willing to take on this risk. I like it here so I'll take the risk.

[jwscp@aol.com]

We only live once and we can't take it with us. There are over 50,000 homes in the Villages, so the chances are slim that you will have a sinkhole.

[ilovetv]

And as always, a person would be wise to buy a home of value they can afford to lose in case of an unforeseen event for which they do not have insurance or cannot get it.

I think many are buying far more house than they need and might be able to afford in the future. I'd err on the side of smaller and more affordable and fixed up really nicely, just for the eventuality of sudden skyrocketing inflation or other economic disaster that could make all the wheels fall off at once.

[Barefoot]

We only live once and we can't take it with us. There are over 50,000 homes in the Villages, so the chances are slim that you will have a sinkhole.

I feel so sorry for the families that have experienced sinkholes, and their neighbors.

Sinkholes happen rarely, but they are alarming. They attract a lot of attention and media coverage. People worry. The sites of sinkholes seem random to me. As jwscp said, chances are slim that you will have a sink hole, and life is too short to worry about it.

[coolkayaker1]

The sinkhole story of The Villages was just on CBS Evening News with Scott Pelley. Ouch!

There go the local TV homeowner insurance premiums--not just for sinkholes, but overall. (I did see the separate thread on sinkhole insurance, btw).

The Villages hasn't had this much press it was noted that TV had more cases of STDs than Uganda!

(kidding, all!)

[justjim]

It can be fixed and made inhabitable again. It will also be the safest house when it comes to sink holes. The problem is can you convince an insurance company or a buyer? Not only will the two homes involved suffer but the surrounding area takes a hit. Unfortunately building a home in Florida means you are willing to take on this risk. I like it here so I'll take the risk.

Perhaps it can be fixed but who of us would buy it? In my hometown our school succumbed to a sinkhole and the "experts" said it was safe to build a new school on the site. It too had to be demolished.

Needless to say lawyers made a lot of money from the disaster.

If these homes are declared uninhabitable their insurance should cover the enormous expenses in filling up the sinkhole. Its a tragedy and our prayers are with the owners and the neighborhood.

[pauld315]

Another one reported in The Village of Mallory Square. Smaller but still affecting the properties there.

http://www.**************.com/another-sinkhole-villages-time-village-mallory-square/

[LndLocked]

Huge sinkhole reopens between houses - CNN.com Video (http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/us/2014/04/23/mxp-florida-the-villages-sinkhole-reopens.hln.html)

[superuke]

Story hit the national news tonite! Ouch!

[BobnBev]

Another one reported in The Village of Mallory Square. Smaller but still affecting the properties there.

http://www.**************.com/another-sinkhole-villages-time-village-mallory-square/

Can you give us a clickable link, or an address?

[DougB]

...

[e-flyer]

Huge sinkhole reopens between houses - CNN.com Video (http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/us/2014/04/23/mxp-florida-the-villages-sinkhole-reopens.hln.html)

Wow, the news at it's best….I think not! Terrible reporting.

[senior citizen]

As per this Orlando Sentinel article....I just learned that there are not always symptoms that are visible such as the recent obviously seen sinkholes.....so my question is "Do home inspectors look for all the signs that a sinkhole could possibly be imminent?"

""Rather, the symptoms are cracks, doors that don't want to open and shut properly and nails that pop out of wood floors, said Jim Flynn of LRE Ground Services, a Brooksville company that fixes sinkholes across Central Florida and in Lake County.

Rainfall oozing through the soil picks up acid, which slowly dissolves the limestone underneath most of the state. As the limestone dissipates, pores and cracks are enlarged, and holes form in the rock.

Take away the water because of a drought or pumping from development and agricultural use nearby, and the rock collapses on itself.

Throw in heavy rains after a drought, and you've got the recipe for the most active sinkhole time: The pressure sends the surface tumbling into the earth.

Isn't Florida a fun place to live? Don't forget that geological experts also say the state is simply shifting underground because of the amount of development on top.

And now, the companies that repair sinkholes are seeing an increase in complaints in Lake.

"The Tampa Bay area is the worst, but after that the sinkholes in Marion and Lake have definitely got everyone's attention," Flynn said. "It's not just our own experience — the engineers we work with on projects have echoed the sentiment about the increase in activity."

But are sinkholes increasing? Or is that more houses are being built over areas prone to them, such as The Villages? Anthony Randazzo, president of Geohazards Inc. in Gainesville, leaned toward the latter.

"We've known about sinkholes at The Villages for many, many years. We've done numerous investigations, and they're a lot more common than people are led to believe by real-estate agents and developers," said Randazzo, professor emeritus in geology at the University of Florida.
Oh, dear. If a sinkhole decides to visit your property, count on a headache — even if you have sinkhole insurance.

Over the past year, King said, a Land O' Lakes company doing his repair had to tear up his landscaping and pull his back porch off to get close to the house.

Nineteen truckloads of cement were pumped through a high-pressure hose fitted with a drill bit under his home in an attempt to stabilize the ground underneath. The machine blew the cement into depths of 20 to 65 feet so far, and the company has yet to come back and inject more cement closer to the surface.

Cost? At the most recent count, King's insurance has paid $32,000 to repair the interior of the house. He has banked the bucks and is waiting for the sinkhole company to finish its work. About $50,000 has gone to the company for the underground work, for a total of $82,000.

And the result? King said the movement under his house appears to have stopped, but the value of his home has plummeted. He estimated the structure alone, which features a dramatic stone fireplace in a sunken living room, was worth $140,000 to $150,000 before the shifting started. And now, he said it's worth about half — between $70,000 and $80,000.
"That's not because of the damage," King said. "It's just the stigma of having a sinkhole."

The only upside is that sinkholes, like hurricanes, can't effectively be prevented. It's best to do the same thing under either condition: fortify oneself with a beverage of choice, sit back and sip.""

[wereback]

One of the advantages to buying a new house is you can purchase sink hole
home insurance sure could be worth the money

[LndLocked]

Can you give us a clickable link, or an address?

The admins of this msg brd do not allow links to that site to be "clickable"

[tucson]

As per this Orlando Sentinel article....I just learned that there are not always symptoms that are visible such as the recent obviously seen sinkholes.....so my question is "Do home inspectors look for all the signs that a sinkhole could possibly be imminent?"

""Rather, the symptoms are cracks, doors that don't want to open and shut properly and nails that pop out of wood floors, said Jim Flynn of LRE Ground Services, a Brooksville company that fixes sinkholes across Central Florida and in Lake County.

Rainfall oozing through the soil picks up acid, which slowly dissolves the limestone underneath most of the state. As the limestone dissipates, pores and cracks are enlarged, and holes form in the rock.

Take away the water because of a drought or pumping from development and agricultural use nearby, and the rock collapses on itself.

Throw in heavy rains after a drought, and you've got the recipe for the most active sinkhole time: The pressure sends the surface tumbling into the earth.

Isn't Florida a fun place to live? Don't forget that geological experts also say the state is simply shifting underground because of the amount of development on top.

And now, the companies that repair sinkholes are seeing an increase in complaints in Lake.

"The Tampa Bay area is the worst, but after that the sinkholes in Marion and Lake have definitely got everyone's attention," Flynn said. "It's not just our own experience — the engineers we work with on projects have echoed the sentiment about the increase in activity."

But are sinkholes increasing? Or is that more houses are being built over areas prone to them, such as The Villages? Anthony Randazzo, president of Geohazards Inc. in Gainesville, leaned toward the latter.

"We've known about sinkholes at The Villages for many, many years. We've done numerous investigations, and they're a lot more common than people are led to believe by real-estate agents and developers," said Randazzo, professor emeritus in geology at the University of Florida.
Oh, dear. If a sinkhole decides to visit your property, count on a headache — even if you have sinkhole insurance.

Over the past year, King said, a Land O' Lakes company doing his repair had to tear up his landscaping and pull his back porch off to get close to the house.

Nineteen truckloads of cement were pumped through a high-pressure hose fitted with a drill bit under his home in an attempt to stabilize the ground underneath. The machine blew the cement into depths of 20 to 65 feet so far, and the company has yet to come back and inject more cement closer to the surface.

Cost? At the most recent count, King's insurance has paid $32,000 to repair the interior of the house. He has banked the bucks and is waiting for the sinkhole company to finish its work. About $50,000 has gone to the company for the underground work, for a total of $82,000.

And the result? King said the movement under his house appears to have stopped, but the value of his home has plummeted. He estimated the structure alone, which features a dramatic stone fireplace in a sunken living room, was worth $140,000 to $150,000 before the shifting started. And now, he said it's worth about half — between $70,000 and $80,000.
"That's not because of the damage," King said. "It's just the stigma of having a sinkhole."

The only upside is that sinkholes, like hurricanes, can't effectively be prevented. It's best to do the same thing under either condition: fortify oneself with a beverage of choice, sit back and sip.""



From Ocala.com: Ryan Gummer, President, Secure Restoration Systems, a Ocala company specializing in sinkhole remediation or stabilization of the foundation, "drought conditions, infrastructure AND growth" are factors in sinkhole activity, Gummer said. He also cited well pumping,which reduces underground "hydraulic pressure AND thus weakening underground cavities while putting the weight on top with irrigation. Gummer ALSO said, a soil penetration test PRIOR to construction COULD SPOT sinkhole activity, BUT "it's COSTLY & NOT REQUIRED".

[3puttharry]

As per this Orlando Sentinel article....I just learned that there are not always symptoms that are visible such as the recent obviously seen sinkholes.....so my question is "Do home inspectors look for all the signs that a sinkhole could possibly be imminent?"

""Rather, the symptoms are cracks, doors that don't want to open and shut properly and nails that pop out of wood floors, said Jim Flynn of LRE Ground Services, a Brooksville company that fixes sinkholes across Central Florida and in Lake County.

Rainfall oozing through the soil picks up acid, which slowly dissolves the limestone underneath most of the state. As the limestone dissipates, pores and cracks are enlarged, and holes form in the rock.

Take away the water because of a drought or pumping from development and agricultural use nearby, and the rock collapses on itself.

Throw in heavy rains after a drought, and you've got the recipe for the most active sinkhole time: The pressure sends the surface tumbling into the earth.

Isn't Florida a fun place to live? Don't forget that geological experts also say the state is simply shifting underground because of the amount of development on top.

And now, the companies that repair sinkholes are seeing an increase in complaints in Lake.

"The Tampa Bay area is the worst, but after that the sinkholes in Marion and Lake have definitely got everyone's attention," Flynn said. "It's not just our own experience — the engineers we work with on projects have echoed the sentiment about the increase in activity."

But are sinkholes increasing? Or is that more houses are being built over areas prone to them, such as The Villages? Anthony Randazzo, president of Geohazards Inc. in Gainesville, leaned toward the latter.

"We've known about sinkholes at The Villages for many, many years. We've done numerous investigations, and they're a lot more common than people are led to believe by real-estate agents and developers," said Randazzo, professor emeritus in geology at the University of Florida.
Oh, dear. If a sinkhole decides to visit your property, count on a headache — even if you have sinkhole insurance.

Over the past year, King said, a Land O' Lakes company doing his repair had to tear up his landscaping and pull his back porch off to get close to the house.

Nineteen truckloads of cement were pumped through a high-pressure hose fitted with a drill bit under his home in an attempt to stabilize the ground underneath. The machine blew the cement into depths of 20 to 65 feet so far, and the company has yet to come back and inject more cement closer to the surface.

Cost? At the most recent count, King's insurance has paid $32,000 to repair the interior of the house. He has banked the bucks and is waiting for the sinkhole company to finish its work. About $50,000 has gone to the company for the underground work, for a total of $82,000.

And the result? King said the movement under his house appears to have stopped, but the value of his home has plummeted. He estimated the structure alone, which features a dramatic stone fireplace in a sunken living room, was worth $140,000 to $150,000 before the shifting started. And now, he said it's worth about half — between $70,000 and $80,000.
"That's not because of the damage," King said. "It's just the stigma of having a sinkhole."

The only upside is that sinkholes, like hurricanes, can't effectively be prevented. It's best to do the same thing under either condition: fortify oneself with a beverage of choice, sit back and sip.""



Who is King? Where does he live?

[jaimeG]

That's great that you have that coverage on your home. However, have you weighed the pro's and con's of that coverage. Please look into it to see if its as valuable of a coverage as you think. Some people do not actually know what the coverage really is and how it will benefit them. I know sinkholes are on all our minds and we want to make sure we are all protected. Just check the real costs of that protection and see if its worth it.

[janmcn]

Sinkhole reopens in The Villages - Daily Commercial: News (http://www.dailycommercial.com/news/article_ff316a99-64c7-5ae5-a978-3bd233e2082f.html)


According to this article in today's Daily Commercial, crews are working around the clock filling the 65 feet wide by 70 feet deep with dirt trying to stabilize the hole. The work started yesterday and is expected to take 24 to 48 hours to complete.

The crews are working diligently to save the two houses, which so far show no signs of cracking or other damage. Nobody has been inside either house since Saturday.

Crews are also standing by to cut off the water if the hole spreads to the street.

[wereback]

checked it is

[elizabeth52]

Re: Who is King and where does he live......from the article posted in the Orlando Sentinel.

King, who owns a property-appraisal business in Leesburg, noticed the first crack in his 30-year-old home about two years ago.

Now cracks in King's home south of Leesburg near U.S. Highway 27 gape a half-inch and have gone the whole way through the concrete block, tearing drywall and leaving ajar doors and the spots where walls meet ceiling.

King, 76, is not alone, and chances are pretty high that a rising number of homeowners, especially in and near The Villages retirement community, will be in the same situation when summer rains start.

What's going on under that shifty Florida soil? Answer: sinkholes. Big cracks in homes now are often diagnosed as nascent sinkholes, thanks to ground-penetrating radar and other new technology.

That's what happened at King's house. There aren't any actual depressions in the ground where the earth has collapsed on itself, the traditional mental picture of a sinkhole.

Rather, the symptoms are cracks, doors that don't want to open and shut properly and nails that pop out of wood floors.

[justjim]

One of the advantages to buying a new house is you can purchase sink hole
home insurance sure could be worth the money

Can someone tell us what is the rationale for an insurance company to insure a new home in TV and not a resale.

I'm not the brightest bulb in the ceiling but this makes no sense to me. The risk appears to me would be the same. :read:

[Barefoot]

Can someone tell us what is the rationale for an insurance company to insure a new home in TV and not a resale.

Jim, could you please explain why you think that sinkhole insurance is available for a new home and not for a resale?
We had a CYV and had sinkhole insurance on it. We sold it and purchased a larger home, and we have sinkhole insurance on this home also.

[janmcn]

Jim, could you please explain why you think that sinkhole insurance is available for a new home and not for a resale?
We had a CYV and had sinkhole insurance on it. We sold it and purchased a larger home, and we have sinkhole insurance on this home also.


Was this before or after 2012 when the new law took effect?

[elizabeth52]

I took the advice of several TOTV members and called an insurance agent to ask my questions regarding sinkhole insurance. I just spoke to an agent in the Allstate office who indicated that they have been flooded with calls from people who already own property within Villages and people considering buying property in the Villages.

As most of you know, catastrophic sinkhole insurance is part of your homeowners policy, however, MOST incidents of sinkhole damage is not catastrophic. They currently will write a policy with a 10% deductible and pay up to a policy's limits. The homeowner is responsible out of pocket for everything under the 10% and anything over a policy limit. But he also said that he understands that in the very near future, even the 10% deductible will not be offered and there will be no sinkhole insurance available except catastrophic. He also said that if you currently have a policy with a less that 10% deductible, chances are that upon renewal, it will be hiked to the 10% or dropped altogether. He has heard of cases where the hike has occured after 5 years on new construction, but the more and more insurers are getting out of the sinkhole insurance business.

He also said that if your home is within one mile radius, your home is attached to that sinkhole as far as insurance and how it will be rated. It will also be noted on any inspection report if you go to sell your property.

I did call another Agency called Town and Country, but they said that no one was offering sinkhole insurance in Florida. They would not engage in any conversation and cut me off so I couldn't ask any questions.


Has anyone here experienced their sinkhole insurance dropped or changed? Or not being able to get it at all?

[Barefoot]

Was this before or after 2012 when the new law took effect?

So sorry if I misled anyone.
Our insurance policy has been renewed since 2012.
But the policy was first purchased prior to 2012.
So perhaps sinkhole insurance is only available to previous customers.

[Cathy H]

Oh, that darn rain again.

[NottaVillager]

All the laws regarding Sinkhole insurance (Not catastrophic ground collapse insurance) changed in Florida on 1/1/2012 following insurance "reform" enacted by the Florida state government. If you were a NEW policy holder in Florida as of 1/1/2012 your chances of getting sinkhole coverage in ANY home (new or resale) is almost nil. Our rep at Villages Insurance told us that she had only ONE Florida insurer who would write sinkhole insurance for NEW HOMES ONLY in The Villages. None of their other companies would write for it. If you purchase a resale home you can apply for sinkhole insurance, and they will send out a company to do an inspection. You pay 50% of the cost of the inspection, the insurance company pays the other half. Chances are no matter how good your inspection looks, your insurance company will decline to issue you a policy for sinkhole coverage. If all the planets & stars align and you do get a sinkhole policy it will come with a deductible as high as 30%. 30% of what?? Of the SALE PRICE OF YOUR HOME. So if you bought a house that cost 300K you will be on the hook for the first $30,000 of damage.

Sinkhole and Catastrophic Ground Collapse are NOT the same things although most people use the terms interchangeably. Catastrophic Ground Collapse insurance is REQUIRED on ALL policies issued in Florida. Sinkhole, which covers the less noticeable, happening-over-time damages is no longer required in Florida policies and as stated above is now almost impossible to obtain anywhere in FL.

The damages incurred by the homes in the current discussion fall under Catastrophic Ground Collapse, not sinkhole coverage.

Our Villages Insurance rep also told us that even those who currently have sinkhole coverage will lose it in the next couple of years no matter what your situation. This kind of coverage has basically passed into history.

[Abster]

And as always, a person would be wise to buy a home of value they can afford to lose in case of an unforeseen event for which they do not have insurance or cannot get it.

I think many are buying far more house than they need and might be able to afford in the future. I'd err on the side of smaller and more affordable and fixed up really nicely, just for the eventuality of sudden skyrocketing inflation or other economic disaster that could make all the wheels fall off at once. I certainly agree. We bought, paid for, gutted, renovated and professionally decorated a CYV. Our primary residence is elsewhere. If this place were swallowed up by a sinkhole, we'd be upset but it wouldn't break the bank. We're big believers in not living beyond your means. I seriously doubt a lot of these retirees are living within their means or actually own their homes. If disaster strikes, many will be hard pressed to recover.

[Bogie Shooter]

I certainly agree. We bought, paid for, gutted, renovated and professionally decorated a CYV. Our primary residence is elsewhere. If this place were swallowed up by a sinkhole, we'd be upset but it wouldn't break the bank. We're big believers in not living beyond your means. I seriously doubt a lot of these retirees are living within their means or actually own their homes. If disaster strikes, many will be hard pressed to recover.

Where does this come from???

[mickey100]

We know a number of people that have what we consider lavish homes that are mortgaged, who haven't been able to retire completely, but are still working part time. I guess everyone's different. For some people a "show" home is important, even if they have to keep working to pay for it. If I was faced with that choice, I'd go with a little less home if it meant I could retire.

[Abster]

Where does this come from??? Well...when I walk with a small group or listen to people in a social setting here and they are talking about financing a golf cart or car or their home mortgage, it indicates (to me) they are living beyond their means. That's my own opinion of course - and it's probably correct!

[ROCKETMAN]

Well...when I walk with a small group or listen to people in a social setting here and they are talking about financing a golf cart or car or their home mortgage, it indicates (to me) they are living beyond their means. That's my own opinion of course - and it's probably correct!

If you think most people in the villages pay cash for houses, cars, golf cart, you are gaga land. Just my observation:BigApplause:

[kstew43]

the sales people told us most of the homes in the villages are sold all cash......no appraisals needed.

he also added that a large majority of buyers buy a second, a patio home, just for investment purposes, since he said that there growth is better that 10% a year and people feel that is better than the banks and the market.....

[asianthree]

Well...when I walk with a small group or listen to people in a social setting here and they are talking about financing a golf cart or car or their home mortgage, it indicates (to me) they are living beyond their means. That's my own opinion of course - and it's probably correct!

:popcorn::popcorn::popcorn:

[e-flyer]

the sales people told us most of the homes in the villages are sold all cash......no appraisals needed.

he also added that a large majority of buyers buy a second, a patio home, just for investment purposes, since he said that there growth is better that 10% a year and people feel that is better than the banks and the market.....

Interesting….our sales agent who has been selling here for over 10 yrs. told us the majority take out a loan.

[elizabeth52]

Interesting….our sales agent who has been selling here for over 10 yrs. told us the majority take out a loan.

Ditto. When we were there we were told that 60% carried a mortgage.

[gomoho]

Who really cares how someone else paid or is paying for their home??? unless they're knocking on your door for a donation!

[Happy Snowbird]

This thread has really gotten off topic. But I will add my opinion. Even tho we could pay cash we don't as I believe it's better to use someone elses $$ (loan) and continue my investments. Cash or loans don't always truly reflect a persons financial status. Besides, who cares!

[senior citizen]

Well...when I walk with a small group or listen to people in a social setting here and they are talking about financing a golf cart or car or their home mortgage, it indicates (to me) they are living beyond their means. That's my own opinion of course - and it's probably correct!



I totally understand where you are coming from. We've owned many homes and have not had a mortgage since we were in our early to mid 40's, when our two kids were in college. At our age now, of 69, we would not want the burden of a mortgage or loans for furniture, etc., cars, golf carts, etc.

We only buy what we can afford. Like you, we have done extensive remodeling over the years, always paying from our savings. It's a blessing not to have debt in your senior years. Once our home sells here, for good or bad (as far as profit goes) we will only spend what we have, with no need for a mortgage.

I once read on TOTV of how a villager in her nineties got a mortgage. That was surprising to say the least. Our town bankers have always been so conservative that I'd bet anything that they would not give such an elderly person a mortgage.

Perhaps it is just Yankee Frugality or New England Frugality.
Who knows? But I do "get" your message.

[elizabeth52]

I also live within my means and our home has been paid for for years. But regardless, if what I am being told is true, that sinkhole coverage (not catastrophic ground collapse) will become non-existent in the very near future, the cost associated with problems from sinkhole damages could potentially be in upward of $100,000 or more. That is what the insurance agent told me.

For those of you who bought your home and could get coverage, I understand that you are not concerned. And now that you have your home, what can you do?, I understand that also. But as a potential buyer, would you have felt the same if there was NO coverage available to you?

[karostay]

Who cares

[graciegirl]

We know a number of people that have what we consider lavish homes that are mortgaged, who haven't been able to retire completely, but are still working part time. I guess everyone's different. For some people a "show" home is important, even if they have to keep working to pay for it. If I was faced with that choice, I'd go with a little less home if it meant I could retire.



Now this gets me all riled up. My husband is still working. He is in his early seventies. Our home is paid for. He is good at what he does and enjoys it. He is able to work from our home and the hours that he wishes. As a result we were able to pay for our two grandchildren's college education and allow them to be launched without a debt, (They both maintained grades to keep them on the deans list) and be sure our daughter who has Williams Syndrome won't have to live off of anyone. We have always been careful and frugal. It is a choice and a mindset. Don't say anymore Gracie. Deep breaths.


Now I feel better, although it is off topic.

[Moderator]

The thread has strayed far from the original topic of the sinkhole and is now closed.

Moderator