Here’s What Everyone Need To Know About Sinkholes

  • While sinkholes aren’t naturally at the forefront of our minds when we’re disaster prepping, we can’t forget about them. Unlike other natural disasters, a stockpile or extra ammo won’t exactly help you in this situation. As a result, find out which warning signs you need to be on the lookout for as well as whether your insurance company can help to alleviate any concerns.

    What Are Sinkholes?

    Sinkholes are an area of ground that has no natural external surface drainage. As rain falls, the water accumulates in the sinkhole then drains into the subsurface, eroding the limestone, carbonate rock, salt beds, and other slightly soluble bedrock forming spaces and caverns below.

    How Often Do They Occur? And Where?

    We don’t know how often they occur because there isn’t enough data on the natural phenomenon.

    Sinkholes are most common in areas where the rock below the land surfaces is comprised of limestone, carbonate rock, and salt beds. Florida, Texas, Alabama, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, eastern New York, Indiana, southeastern Minnesota, and parts of South Dakota, Wyoming, New Mexico, and Oklahoma.

    What Are the Warning Signs of Sinkholes?

    Keep an eye out for fresh cracks to the foundation in your home and other buildings, and watch for skewed door frames that won’t let your door shut properly. Other signs include a tree in your yard suddenly starting to lean to one side and cracks appearing in the ground outside.

    Does Insurance Cover the Damages?

    Unfortunately, naturally occurring sinkholes are considered “ground movement,” which puts them in the same category as earthquakes. That means sinkholes are rarely, if ever, covered by your standard homeowners insurance plan.

    Florida state law, however says home insurers must offer residents protection for “catastrophic ground cover collapse.” So, if you’re a Florida resident with a homeowners insurance policy, you may already be covered.

    Should You Worry About Sinkholes?

    Not necessarily, but it depends on where you live. Most sinkholes don’t cause fatalities, but it is a possibility.

    Have you ever witnessed a sinkhole? Are you worried about them occurring where you are?

    Article Source: Life Hacker



    3 Comments

    1. Dennis Tyndall said:

      Learn Geology. Sink holes occur in karst geography. Regions underlain by limestone easily eroded subterraneanly. Google the Corvette Museum sink whole.

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