[Pairadocs]

Originally Posted by LeeM

We are visiting soon and looking to buy so I wondered about the sinkhole issue. This is very helpful. Thank you.

Don't become paranoid about it, but DO a LOT of homework. Florida government website also keep maps with good stats, and you definitely want to make sure you talk in person with the insurance agency you are going to use and make SURE you understand the differences in the coverage and especially the "TERMS" used in the language ! ! HOME WORK PAYS

[don_h]

Thanks for the link on the geology paper for central FL In some cases it is possible to detect sinkholes using geophysical methods. One is ground penetrating radar(GPR). The depth of detection is inversely proportional to the frequency. But the resolution is lower for lower frequencies. So using higher frequencies gives more detail but won't detect as deep. Ground penetrating radar devices are very expensive. There are companies out there that can do a study of your property. You can easily find them with a search engine. I would put one here, but someone might think that I am promoting it and have an interest in their business.

If you are an electronics enthusiast I saw some plans on how to build one, but I am not sure of its performance, and so far I haven't found a link for the source code.

You could use statistics to formally look for a correlation between elevation and sinkholes. Those with lower elevation though are also closer to layers where the FL aquifer is, and where conduits and caves would form. So GPR would not have as far to go to reach that layer. Clay soils and moisture greatly affect GPR by reducing the range of the signal. Under those conditions you may not get the detection depth that you want.

[Matzy]

Thank you very much for this article and the work you’ve done. I appreciate also all comments to this topic.

[buster21]

The compass app on your iPhone gives the elevation where the phone is located.

[FinallyHome352]

Wow! Thank you!

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by FinallyHome352

Wow! Thank you!

Who?

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by VillagerFrog58

Here five of the recent ones that I have.

I'm in Mallory Square. Yikes! I do have something to worry about. Life is not all a bowl of cherries.

[Normal]

Sinkholes occur when limestone is eroded away by water. Almost the entire state of Florida is on a limestone base. Perhaps (unscientifically speaking), water gathers from rains etc to the lowest spots and accelerates erosion. This kind of endorses you hypotheses?

[JRcorvette]

Considering the number of homes here in the Villages sinkholes are a very rare occurrence. You are more likely to have a home fire. Companies are making a lot of money on that insurance coverage.

[Robojo]

I wonder if we laid this map over the florida sinkhole rating map if we would find any answers.

I am very interested in this topic and its seems like no one wants to talk about it.

How can a person invest 500k into a house that may sink into the ground?

Originally Posted by VillagerFrog58

I have been a resident of the Villages for only a few years. Using the news releases and postings on this website, I got the elevation chart from the Sumter county website and overlayed (using google maps) the roads of the villages. From that, I put a yellow dot where I have record of past sinkholes; whether big ones or little ones. Using Google earth (which has plotted every road in the Villages) and the elevation they provide, I put the elevation of that area by the yellow dot. Disregarding two areas where sinkholes occurred because of retention pond lining issues, I have 8 others as shown. What I found (though absolutely unscientific) is that of the 8 that I know of, were all below 84 feet in elevation, with the lowest being at 63 ft. There are portions of the Villages where the elevation is much higher... all the way up to 140 feet. No sinkholes have occurred in those areas. So.. I'm thinking that the more elevation / ground you have under you, the lesser the probability of a sinkhole occurring. Anyhow, I'm just sharing for those that may be interested. And BTW, if I am missing any locations from the past, just post it's location and date and I will add to the chart.

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by rubicon

To me, predicting sinkholes is like predicting 100 year floods.

IMO I’d say 500 year floods unless water Main breaks or retention pond drain/transfer pipes are involved then it goes way up like predicting winner of 10 horse races.

IMO majority of sinkholes most likely would not of occurred if development had not taken place.

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by Robojo

I wonder if we laid this map over the florida sinkhole rating map if we would find any answers.

I am very interested in this topic and its seems like no one wants to talk about it.

How can a person invest 500k into a house that may sink into the ground?

You might be able have penetrating ground inspection that my show something if it does and have it filled in before build house (but that may cost more than house?)Like ones they do when sinkhole occurs before they fill it in. I sure it’s pretty expensive? I don’t know it it’s allowed on new or resale homes already built?

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by Robojo

I wonder if we laid this map over the florida sinkhole rating map if we would find any answers.

I am very interested in this topic and its seems like no one wants to talk about it.

How can a person invest 500k into a house that may sink into the ground?

There is a Florida sinkhole rating map??

We live in one of the most active lightning areas in the US. How can a person invest 500k into a house that may get hit by lightning? Whether it's lightning, blizzards, floods, wildfires, hurricanes, tornadoes, or earthquakes you cannot get away from natural disasters. Do what you can to avoid them, do what you can to prepare for them, then buy your 500k house where you feel the rewards outweigh the risks.

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

There is a Florida sinkhole rating map??

We live in one of the most active lightning areas in the US. How can a person invest 500k into a house that may get hit by lightning? Whether it's lightning, blizzards, floods, wildfires, hurricanes, tornadoes, or earthquakes you cannot get away from natural disasters. Do what you can to avoid them, do what you can to prepare for them, then buy your 500k house where you feel the rewards outweigh the risks.

Or have good insurance policy and good lawyer.

[neilbcox]

About 7 years ago a major sink hole (developer says depression) was directly under Hillsborough road by Pensacola golf course. It took several weeks for developers to repair. I believe it was 20 feet deep.

Have you completed your great research south of H44?