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sinkhole

Cleanup set to begin on massive sinkhole

July 26, 2017 By Kevin Weiss

Barring unforeseen developments, cleanup is expected to begin this week on the massive sinkhole that recently swallowed two homes in the Lake Padgett community of Land O’ Lakes.

As of July 20, Pasco County was entering the final stages of securing bids from contractors for debris removal at the sinkhole site, which now measures 235 feet wide and approximately 50 feet deep — believed to be the largest in the county’s history.

While the sinkhole is labeled ‘dormant,’ recent activity has been documented. On July 19, the sinkhole’s perimeter widened by approximately 10 feet, after sand erosion just below the ground surface dried out and collapsed into the hole.
The movement along the bank resulted in a hot tub and slab of concrete falling into the hole, along with about 10 feet of dirt and grass. (Courtesy of Pasco County)

Before cleanup and repair work can begin, however, engineers must perform additional testing to ensure the ground around the sinkhole is stable enough for heavy equipment. One of the county’s contracted engineers, Intertek-PSI, is currently using ground penetrating radar and core sampling to measure the structural integrity of Ocean Pines Drive and county easements leading up to the sinkhole.

Kevin Guthrie, Pasco County’s assistant county administrator for public safety, said recovery work could take months, with costs ranging from $750,000 to more than $2 million.

“It’s going to be a very slow and methodical process,” Guthrie said.

The county already has spent about $100,000 responding to the sinkhole, through contractual and departmental costs.

The county’s goal is to have a debris removal company in place in case homeowner’s insurance companies don’t accept responsibility to clean up the sinkhole.

The fastest, most economical cleanup tactic being considered is what’s called a dragline — a cable-operated system that would extend out and collect debris from the surface of the sinkhole.

Other possible options include using a float barge or large crane, with an excavator, to remove debris and decontaminate the sinkhole site.

“We’re trying to look for the most cost-effective, but safe option, so that we don’t put other homes in danger,” Guthrie said. “If we can employ a tactic that does not cause harm to the (sinkhole) banks, that’s the big deal right now.

“There’s a possibility using that dragline may actually destabilize those banks and cause further damage,” he said.

The assistant county administrator estimates filling the entire sinkhole would require approximately 135,000 cubic yards of dirt, though plans that far ahead are not yet in place.

The sinkhole originally opened on July 14 at 21825 Ocean Pines Drive, where it engulfed two homes and a boat.

Despite extensive property damage, no injuries have been reported.

The sinkhole is currently labeled “dormant,” but activity has been documented.

On July 19, the sinkhole’s perimeter widened by approximately 10 feet, after sand erosion just below the ground surface dried and collapsed into the hole.

The movement along the bank resulted in a hot tub and slab of concrete falling into the hole, along with about 10 feet of dirt and grass.

As a precaution, two homeowners along Canal Street were advised to gather their belongings for possible evacuation in the future.

Guthrie has reassured the activity is not an indication of the sinkhole becoming deeper.

“The sinkhole is not growing,” he said, assuredly.

In resolving the erosion issue, Guthrie said the edges of the sinkhole must be reshaped with dirt, from a 90-degree angle to a 45-degree slope.

“There is no support for that sand. As the water table goes down, that sand has nothing to hold it in place. So, that sand is falling out which then causes the grass and top soil to collapse,” Guthrie explained.

Once engineers deem the area safe, the county will bring in dump truck loads of dirt to shore up the banks of the sinkhole, before the large-scale cleanup process begins.

“We’re trying to determine if there are any sinkholes or any other activity under the ground before we bring the dump trucks in. Once we have figured that out, then we will start bringing that dirt in,” Guthrie said.

Elsewhere, water tests of the sinkhole turned up negative for E. Coli, officials said last week.

Further testing did come up positive for total coliform bacteria, in some of the water surrounding the sinkhole, officials said.

Greg Crumpton, a county health official, said it’s likely the result of older, dirty wells, some of which are upwards of 10 years to 20 years old in the Lake Padgett and Lake Saxon communities.

He said a confirmatory test and resample is underway.

If those tests come back positive, nearby homeowners are advised to use bottled or boiled water until the wells are disinfected.

Water tests
Due to the positive bacterial results, Pasco County announced it is waiving the fees for well water for testing more than 400 homes along Lake Padgett and Lake Saxon through July 28.

All residents living on the following streets qualify for free well water testing: Bronze Leaf Place, Canal Place, Clover Leaf Lane, Flat Rock Place, Grove Place, Heatherwood Lane, Lake Padgett Drive, Lake Saxon Drive, Ocean Pines Drive, Panther Way, Peninsular Drive, Pine Shadow Drive, Rain Forest Place, Snook Circle, Swans Landing Drive and Wilsky Road.

Residents who would like their well water tested should do the following:

  • Go to the Pasco County Environmental Laboratory located at 8864 Government Drive in New Port Richey and request a test kit for Total Coliform.
  • Present proof of address and receive lab instructions to collect water.
  • Take a sample of their tap water according to lab protocols, and bring the sample and associated paperwork back to the laboratory.
  • Results will be available in two days.

 

Help still available
Help remains available for sinkhole victims. Those needing help should reach out to the American Red Cross, The Salvation Army of Pasco County, Pasco County Human Services or United Way of Pasco County.

Published July 26, 2017

Filed Under: Land O' Lakes News, Local News Tagged With: American Red Cross, Canal Street, Government Drive, Greg Crumpton, Intertek-PSI, Kevin Guthrie, Lake Padgett, Lake Saxon, Land O' Lakes, New Port Richey, Ocean Pines Drive, Pasco County Environmental Laboratory, Pasco County Human Services, sinkhole, The Salvation Army of Pasco County, United Way of Pasco County

Massive sinkhole swallows two homes

July 19, 2017 By B.C. Manion

Recovery efforts expected to take months

Efforts are beginning in a recovery process to address impacts from a massive sinkhole that swallowed two homes in the Lake Padgett community of Land O’ Lakes.

Kevin Guthrie, Pasco County’s assistant county administrator for public safety, said authorities received a 911 call at 7:21 a.m., on July 14, reporting a depression forming under a boat.

A depression indicating the presence of this sinkhole was initially reported to Pasco County authorities around 7:21 a.m., on July 14. It grew quickly, swallowing two homes and the roadway in front of it before going dormant that evening. (Courtesy of Pasco County)

First responders from Pasco County Fire Rescue were on scene by 7:36 a.m., according to county officials.

“Very quickly, it (the sinkhole) started expanding toward the house, and then the house started falling in,” Guthrie said, estimated that happened within 30 to 40 minutes of them being on scene.

First responders rescued two dogs from one home and quickly evacuated other nearby homes, he said.

When Guthrie arrived, shortly after 9 a.m., the sinkhole was at the edge of the driveway of one of the destroyed homes.

“Within 45 minutes, the entire roadway was in,” he said.

In addition to the two homes — at 21825 Ocean Pines Drive and 21835 Ocean Pines Drive — that were destroyed, the county tagged nine other homes as being unsafe to enter.

Despite the extensive property damage, however, no one was injured.

The neighborhood was cordoned off on July 14 to keep people safe and keep curiosity seekers out.

Besides a heavy presence of public safety officials, scores of media outlets swarmed the neighborhood on July 14. News trucks straddled the normally quiet residential streets, and drones and helicopters buzzed overhead.

The story made the national news, received extensive coverage on local television stations and captured air time on NPR, too.

Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey visited the site on July 17, to see the devastation firsthand and to announce a relief effort established to help those affected.

“Seeing it on TV is very different from seeing it live,” Starkey said, of the sinkhole’s damage.

“This is just devastating for our community. I’m just very thankful we had no loss of life,” she added.

The commissioner also offered this reassurance: “I wanted our residents and our citizens to know that the Pasco County Commission is here for them.”

Kevin Guthrie, Pasco County’s assistant county administrator, addresses the media at one of several briefings regarding the giant sinkhole that opened up in Land O’ Lakes. (B.C. Manion)

United Way of Pasco has partnered with the county to help the people who have been affected by the sinkhole, said Alice Delgardo, CEO of the organization.

A sinkhole relief fund has been set up by United Way of Pasco, and another one is being established by SunTrust Bank, Delgardo said.

Anyone wishing to contribute can be assured that those accounts are legitimate and will provide help to those affected, Guthrie said.

Immediately after the news conference with Starkey, water quality sampling began.

Water at the nine homes that were evacuated will be tested, as well as another 11 homes in the neighborhood, Guthrie said. Results were expected by the afternoon of July 18 (after The Laker/Lutz News went to press).

No other action by the county was expected on July 17.

“We are still in that 48-hour waiting period that the Department of Environmental Protection has asked us to do.

“The Department of Environmental Protection will be back today (July 17) to do another water level assessment to make sure that things are not growing,” Guthrie said.

Before it went dormant, the sinkhole grew to 225 feet in diameter and 50 feet deep, Guthrie said.

“I don’t recall any sinkhole of this size (in Pasco County), nor one that had water in it,” Starkey said.

“I believe this is the largest one in the state of Florida in recent history,” Guthrie said.

Guthrie is unsure when the residents who were evacuated will be able to return home.

“Engineers are telling us that it’s not safe, as we move that heavy equipment in and out of here, with the sinkhole. We don’t know exactly where that safe edge is at.

“We’re going to be working with building engineers, with civil engineers … We are going to do everything in our power to get those people back in their homes as soon as we possibly can,” he said.

Guthrie also wanted to assure area residents: “We’re going to communicate with them every step of the way. We’re going to walk this road, hand-in-hand. We’re going to keep them informed. Do not fear, we are not going to turn our back on you. We are not going to let you down. We are going to be with you, every step of the way.

“The full strength of the Board of County Commission, the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, The United Way and Red Cross, Salvation Army and our community is all standing here with them, and we’re going to work it together,” Guthrie said.

Sinkhole relief efforts
Need help?
Citizens who need help can reach out to the American Red Cross, The Salvation Army of Pasco County, Pasco County Human Services or United Way of Pasco County.

Want to help?
Those wanting to help can visit UnitedWayPasco.org and click on the sinkhole relief banner; text sinkhole41444 or check with SunTrust Bank, which also is setting up a relief fund account.

What’s next?

  • Pasco Emergency Management has moved from a response phase to a recovery phase, which is expected to take months to repair the sinkhole.
  • Pasco County is now treating this as a hazardous materials incident because of septic tank issues and building debris. The county began testing water quality of the nine evacuated homes on July 17 and planned to test it on 11 other homes in the neighborhood as well.

Additional residents wishing to have their water tested for E. coli ($7 fee) or other possible contaminants (additional fees apply) may do so through the Pasco County Environmental Lab. Go to PascoCountyFl.net/index.aspx?NID=1476.

  • County officials will meet with homeowners and insurance companies to start discussing mitigation
  • Residents who were evacuated will be allowed back into their homes as quickly as possible, but the county will be consulting with experts to be sure it is safe for them to return.

Published July 19, 2017

Filed Under: Top Story Tagged With: Alice Delgardo, American Red Cross, Board of County Commission, Department of Environmental Protection, Kathryn Starkey, Kevin Guthrie, Lake Padgett, Land O' Lakes, Ocean Pines Drive, Pasco County Commission, Pasco County Environmental Lab, Pasco County Human Services, Pasco Emergency Management, Salvation Army, sinkhole, SunTrust Bank, United Way of Pasco

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