New Sinkhole Opens on top of Fatal 2013 Sinkhole in Florida
Sometime after the sun came up Wednesday, a woman walking her dog past a fenced-off area in a sleepy suburban neighborhood near Tampa, Florida, heard a loud rumble. She quickly dialed 911. The earth had opened, again.
By Wednesday afternoon, a 17-foot wide and 20-foot deep sinkhole had formed in exactly the same place where a man was swallowed by the earth in while sleeping 2013. Hillsborough County officials said it’s likely the hole opened because of all the recent rains and that such activity isn’t uncommon.
In March 2013, Jeffrey Bush was asleep in his bedroom on the property when the floor collapsed and he fell in. His body was never recovered. His brother, Jeremy Bush, was in the house and tried to rescue him, even jumping into the hole. He was rescued by authorities as the ground crumbled around him. Jeremy Bush was seen at the site Wednesday.
After the tragedy, officials razed the Bush home and two adjacent homes. A sinkhole remediation company filled the hole with gravel, and county officials said the company will study the reopening.
Sinkholes are so common in Florida that state law requires home insurers to provide coverage against the danger. While some cars, homes and other buildings have been devoured, it’s rare for them to swallow a person. Florida is highly prone to sinkholes because there are caverns below ground of limestone, a porous rock that easily dissolves in water.
Living in a home in South Florida, you have to make sure you protect your house from natural disasters with homeowner’s insurance. Although the most prominent type of disasters in South Florida are hurricanes, homeowner’s need to protect themselves from sinkholes or catastrophic ground collapse. Homes or commercial buildings that have confirmed sinkhole activity will lose significant value since under Florida law.
At BB Insurance Marketing, Inc. we are committed to helping you navigate through one of the most critical policy decisions you will have to make during your lifetime. In order to secure you the most appropriate and efficient coverage, it’s important to us that we take the time to truly understand your unique insurance needs – because let’s face it, every Florida home and homeowner is unique – so why shouldn’t your policy be? One of our dedicated agents would be happy to provide you with a thorough coverage evaluation, as well as offer you a free Florida home insurance quote right now!