[CTgolfer]

I want to thank all those on the forum who suggested we check our home insurance policies to see if we have coverage for both Sinkhole and catastrophic ground collapse. I am happy to say our policy through Security First (purchased through Allstate near Wallmart on 466) covers both.

[KEVIN & JOSIE]

Originally Posted by Advogado

Here is a very good POA article on the subject: http://www.poa4us.org/bulletins_file...etin201105.pdf

However, since it is from last May, it may not be up to date on the availability of insurance coverage.

Thanks for info. Helpful..

[GatorFan]

The loss at Cane Garden would be covered under Catastrophic Ground Collapse not sinkhole.

[angiefox10]

Originally Posted by GatorFan

The loss at Cane Garden would be covered under Catastrophic Ground Collapse not sinkhole.

I'm pretty sure I don't have that!!!!

[aljetmet]

Originally Posted by GatorFan

The loss at Cane Garden would be covered under Catastrophic Ground Collapse not sinkhole.

I thought I read today that a house must be condemned to collect under Catastrophic Ground Collapse. Also thought that every one has Catastrophic Ground Collapse in their insurance but not necessarily sink hole insurance.

I guess I have to Google this again just to make sure.

[Tickled_pink]

Originally Posted by aljetmet

I thought I read today that a house must be condemned to collect under Catastrophic Ground Collapse. Also thought that every one has Catastrophic Ground Collapse in their insurance but not necessarily sink hole insurance.

I guess I have to Google this again just to make sure.

I think you are correct. At least that is how I understand it.

[aljetmet]

http://www.dep.state.fl.us/geology/g...khole_2008.pdf

[pauld315]

Originally Posted by GatorFan

The loss at Cane Garden would be covered under Catastrophic Ground Collapse not sinkhole.

Was the house condemned and ordered vacated ? That is one of the criteria that must be met for Catastrophic Ground Collapse to pay anything

Below is from Catastrophic Ground Cover Collapse Coverage

Catastrophic ground cover collapse, on the other hand, covers only a small portion of damages caused by sinkhole activity. Under Florida law, catastrophic ground cover collapse includes geological activity resulting in the following:

• Abrupt loss of ground cover
• A depression in the ground clearly visible to the naked eye
• Structural damage to the building, including the foundation
• Government condemnation of the insured structure and an order to vacate the premises

By the express terms of the coverage, catastrophic ground cover collapse only covers damages when the insured property is condemned by a governmental agency and ordered vacated.

[GatorFan]

Originally Posted by aljetmet

I thought I read today that a house must be condemned to collect under Catastrophic Ground Collapse. Also thought that every one has Catastrophic Ground Collapse in their insurance but not necessarily sink hole insurance.

I guess I have to Google this again just to make sure.

Do you think the county building department let them stay in home? We spoke to our claims office today and was advised catastrophic ground collapse would be the peril covered under and it looks from pictures, repairs would be done.

[CarGuys]

Originally Posted by angiefox10

I'm pretty sure I don't have that!!!!

We have both!

[thistrucksforyou]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

If there was sinkhole activity near your home it very well may not be reported here by the homeowner. However, it would seem that legally that you would have to make that disclosure on selling unless it happened in an easement nearby.

It is something that you can choose to protect yourself from by buying insurance or save the money so as to repair or replace the damage unless it would be the horrible scenario where the whole house collapsed into a hole and I don't think that has happened....or has it? I have only been here four years.

To the person who said there had been sinkhole activity in two places in the village of Caroline, which is pretty close to LSL, (for those not familiar to the area,) how bad was the damage, and was it repaired and how was it repaired? It helps to know this for those who worry. Also IF there is activity in your village, does it make sinkhole insurance go up or become unavailable? Does anyone know about the insurance issue?

When the ground is prepared for construction, huge pipes are placed underground and there is always some settling to the ground that has been disturbed during construction. Sand is a new element for many of us. Can an engineer tell us exactly how sinkholes are fixed?

And here are hugs for all who are worrying. Of course it is our life savings in this property. We need to seek more information about insurance protection and repair and rate of occurance.

I know that the vacant lots around us are regularly run on back and forth by huge trucks and large equipment here to do other stuff and I am guessing that may be done to compact the sand.

After talking with my realtor agent there, I was told any activity on any adjacent lot of sink hole activity has to be disclosed, and if you are in an active area you can not get insurance for it....I only ask this because I was considering buying a home close to Cain Gardens...He is going over there to check it out for me.....

[Russ_Boston]

Originally Posted by aljetmet

I thought I read today that a house must be condemned to collect under Catastrophic Ground Collapse. Also thought that every one has Catastrophic Ground Collapse in their insurance but not necessarily sink hole insurance.

I guess I have to Google this again just to make sure.

Just got my final insurance two days ago. It happened to be the same agent as the one for the Cane house. She indicated that this incident would be covered under Catastrophic coverage. Sinkhole coverage is for the more common problem where a sinkhole causes settlement damage that may or may not be visible by looking at the ground but causing issues with the home that can be costly to fix. Also she indicated that as of a few months ago it is now almost impossible for her to get people written up for sinkhole coverage (she would need inspections ($$) to pass etc.). Catastrophic ground collapse coverage is provided by all providers. Fortunately we are just rolling over our current coverage (we had vacancy protection since we were not there yet) so we have both catastrophic and sinkhole.

Just FYI: We went through Sumter/Marion insurance with ASI as our provider.

[carol_piirto]

Everone needs sinkhole and or catastrophic ground cover insurance (and you probably do already ) if you live anywhere in Central Florida. Because you have one sinkhole, there is no guarantee that it will continue to expand. From what I understand, the engineers check out the depth of the cavern below the interior and exteriors of the houses and the perimeter of the cavern and determine the element of safety, the need for pylons & concrete etc.

In the case of the Cane Garden sinkhole, the engineers, I hear, have determined there is no chance of expansion. What you see is what they got.

Let's hope for no more sinkhole surprises! Thank goodness no one was hurt.

[Fourpar]

[quote=carol_piirto;455854]Everone needs sinkhole and or catastrophic ground cover insurance (and you probably do already ) if you live anywhere in Central Florida. Because you have one sinkhole, there is no guarantee that it will continue to expand. From what I understand, the engineers check out the depth of the cavern below the interior and exteriors of the houses and the perimeter of the cavern and determine the element of safety, the need for pylons & concrete etc.

In the case of the Cane Garden sinkhole, the engineers, I hear, have determined there is no chance of expansion. What you see is what they got.

Let's hope for no more sinkhole surprises! Thank goodness no one was hurt.[/quote

...Well, that's good news. I wonder if a prospective buyer of one of those houses would share that warm and fuzzy feeling????

[graciegirl]

[quote=Fourpar;456011]

Originally Posted by carol_piirto

Everone needs sinkhole and or catastrophic ground cover insurance (and you probably do already ) if you live anywhere in Central Florida. Because you have one sinkhole, there is no guarantee that it will continue to expand. From what I understand, the engineers check out the depth of the cavern below the interior and exteriors of the houses and the perimeter of the cavern and determine the element of safety, the need for pylons & concrete etc.

In the case of the Cane Garden sinkhole, the engineers, I hear, have determined there is no chance of expansion. What you see is what they got.

Let's hope for no more sinkhole surprises! Thank goodness no one was hurt.[/quote

...Well, that's good news. I wonder if a prospective buyer of one of those houses would share that warm and fuzzy feeling????

It appears to be Central Florida's version of Cincinnati's basement flooding....but much less often occuring. It is a bad thing, but not blameable on people.