Sinkhole opens in Hudson
Updated: Thursday, 03 Sep 2009, 4:26 PM EDT
HUDSON - A quaint home on a nice street in the Beacon Woods subdivision has no more front yard. It was swallowed Thursday by a sink hole.
Jackie Boone watched the sinkhole as it grew.
"It was little by little, and then suddenly, it was like thunder -- it all just caved in," Boone said.
Engineering crews scrambled all day Thursday to stabilize the sink hole trucking in load after load of fill. Nonetheless, it continued to expand. By day's end, the corner of a two-car garage was hanging over the edge of the hole.
The home is vacant and for sale.
The large sink hole may serve as a wake up call to people in Pasco and Hernando Counties. As of January home owners' insurance rules change because of what's called Bill 742.
"Bill 742 states that all insurance companies have the right to not renew sink hole coverage in Pasco and Hernando counties," said Billy Fernandez, who directs operations for RAB Foundation Repair. In fact, Fernandez told Fox 13 he has been busy speaking to homeowners' associations helping them prepare for the coming insurance change.
"I have met with over six or seven home owners' associations to explain the bill. I've done over 100 inspections in the last month, telling homeowners what the damage is if it's consistent with sink hole activity or not, whether their neighborhood has sink hole activity, just to help them out," Fernandez said.
In the meantime, neighbors watched as the sinkhole continued moving their direction. Bill McCauley lives next door.
"Very scary, very scary. I hear this little rumble, a little louder rumble, and I heard splash and I knew exactly what it was."
With recent sink hole activity and the coming insurance regulation change, Fernandez said homeowners should be prepared. His company will provide free sink hole inspections.
http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/dpp/news/local/nature_coast/Sinkhole_opens_in_Hudson_090309
