HOLIDAY, Fla. (AP) – A third hole has formed in in the driveway of a Tampa Bay-area neighborhood and swallowed a car to its bumper. Pasco County spokesman Doug Tobin says the new hole opened Saturday in the front yard of a resident’s home. It was about six feet deep and grew about 10 feet wide. The resident is temporarily relocating.

TALLAHASSEE, Florida (Garin Flowers, First Coast News) – David Williams left his home at 1:45 p.m. to visit family last Monday. He says by the time 2:20 p.m. hit, it happened that quickly. Williams received a call that a sinkhole had opened up across the street from his home. He figured it would be pretty minor, but came home to see his entire road was blocked off and the sinkhole was quite large. “I never thought that I’d be worried about a sinkhole. Lo and behold, I come home and I was like, ‘Whoa.'”

What is a Sinkhole?

Sinkholes are caused because of the underground structure of an area. Tallahassee has a landscape called Karst. Karst happens through deep erosion of a soft rock such as limestone. The ground almost becomes similar to a slice of Swiss-cheese with water flowing in and out of the holes that erosion has created. Unfortunately, there is nothing you can do to prevent naturally occurring sinkholes in Tallahassee.

Tips for Preventing Sinkholes

  • Sinkholes In Tallahassee, FloridaToo much water or not enough water can cause sinkholes to form.
    So check your gutters, make sure the water has proper drainage. A gutter that is running off too close to a foundation may cause a sinkhole to form.
  • Prevent sinkholes by installing the proper helical piers and anchors.
  • Learn the identifiers to possible sinkhole formation.
  • Contact a professional like Foundation Professionals of Florida for a quote and to evaluate the situation.

What are the Signs of a Sinkhole Problem?

  • Ceiling or wall cracks
  • Sloping floors
  • Interior wall separation
  • Window and door frame cracks
  • Leaning fences
  • Driveway and foundation cracks

Homes may show one or all of the above indicators for possible sinkhole activity. Foundation Professionals of Florida has been a leader of foundation repair for over 30 years. Call us today for an estimate. Do not wait until it is too late.  Each sinkhole is different and Foundation Professionals of Florida can develop a specific plan for your specific problem.