POLK COUNTY, Fla. – A family in Polk County has been forced out of their home as a sinkhole that opened in their front yard over the weekend continues to grow, according to Tampa-based station WFTS.
The sinkhole is in the front yard of a home in Highland City, that’s southeast of Lakeland.
On Sunday News 6 reported that the sinkhole was about 15 feet wide and 60 feet deep, but since then county officials say it’s 70-80 feet deep.
Crews were working Tuesday to stabilize and then fill the sinkhole. County officials said there is a concern that if the sinkhole grows too close to the roadway neighbors will be displaced.
The family in the home won’t be able to return to the house until officials deem it safe to do so, the report said.
County officials say sinkholes are common in this area.
How do sinkholes form?
Florida law defines a sinkhole as “a landform created by subsidence of soil, sediment, or rock as underlying strata are dissolved by groundwater. A sinkhole forms by collapse into subterranean voids created by dissolution of limestone or dolostone or by subsidence as these strata are dissolved.”
Geologically, Florida’s land is made up of porous limestone, a key part of the state’s drinking water system, the Florida aquifer system.
When water like rain flows through the porous limestone, it slowly dissolves the aquifer’s limestone forming a landscape called karst, known for springs, streams and even sinkholes.
In fact, some of Florida’s lakes are actually sinkholes, like Lake Eola in Orlando.
The water flows through the limestone, sometimes collecting in the joints of the stone, but as more limestone dissolves from the water, those joints become wider, weakening the ground support. Eventually, the ground collapses, causing a sinkhole to form.
Lots of things can lead to this happening, according to meteorologist Samara Cokinos: flooding, pumping water from the ground, extended droughts or land development are thought to be factors.
Florida is one of the most common states for sinkholes, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
By Florida law, property insurers are required to cover a home if there is a catastrophic ground collapse caused by a sinkhole, but they are not required to cover less severe damage, for instance, if a sinkhole somewhere on your property causes the ground to sink slowly, causing cracks to form in the foundation or even the walls. You can purchase a sinkhole coverage rider to help if that happens.
Listen to Talk To Tom in the media player below: