Florida man swallowed by sinkhole while sleeping (1 Viewer)

[St. Louis Bob]

SEFFNER, Fla. (AP) — A huge sinkhole about 30-feet across opened up under a man's bedroom and swallowed him, taking all of the furniture too.Jeff Bush was feared dead after the floor gave way Thursday night. As he screamed for help, his brother Jeremy Bush jumped into the hole to try to help, but couldn't see him and had to be rescued himself. With the earth still crumbling, a sheriff's deputy reached out his hand and pulled Jeremy Bush to safety."The floor was still giving in and the dirt was still going down, but I didn't care. I wanted to save my brother," Jeremy Bush said through tears Friday as he stood in a neighbor's yard. "But I just couldn't do nothing."The only thing sticking out of the hole was a small corner of a bed's box spring. Cables from a television led down into the hole, but the TV set, along with a dresser, was nowhere to be seen.Officials lowered equipment into the sinkhole but didn't see any sign of life.Jeremy Bush said it took him only seconds to get to his brother's room about 11 p.m. Thursday. He had just knocked on his brother's bedroom door, telling him they weren't working Friday. The brothers were employed by the Transportation Department and picked up trash along interstates and roads."I went in my bedroom, heard a loud crash, ran in that direction," he said. "I was getting ready to run into the room and I almost fell into the hole. I jumped into the hole and started digging for me. I started screaming for him."Engineers worked to determine the size of the sinkhole. At the surface, officials estimated it was about 30 feet across. Below the surface, officials believed it was 100 feet wide.From the outside of the small, sky blue house, nothing appeared wrong. There wear no cracks and the only sign something was amiss was the yellow caution tape circling the house.There were six people at the home when it collapsed, including Jeremy Bush's wife and his 2-year-old daughter."It was something you would see in a movie. You wouldn't, in your wildest dreams, you wouldn't think anything like that could happen, especially here," he said.Hillsborough County Sheriff's Deputy Douglas Duvall rescued Jeremy Bush."I reached down and was able to actually able to get him by his hand and pull him out of the hole. The hole was collapsing. At that time, we left the house," Duvall said.Sheriff's office spokesman Larry McKinnon said authorities asked sinkhole and engineering experts to help with the recovery effort, and they were using equipment to see if the ground can support the weight of heavy machinery that was needed."We put engineering equipment into the sinkhole and didn't see anything compatible with life," Hillsborough County Fire Rescue spokeswoman Jessica Damico said. "The entire house is on the sinkhole."Neighbors on both sides of the home have been evacuated.

My link

 

[T Bell]

What's krista doing in Florida?

 

[oso diablo]

there's ANOTHER Bush?!

 

[jamny]

heartbreaking hearing his brother talk about it and his attempted rescue. :(

 

[St. Louis Bob]

What's krista doing in Florida?

JFC

heartbreaking hearing his brother talk about it and his attempted rescue. :(

No kidding. :(

 

[Limp Ditka]

What's krista doing in Florida?

JFC

not gonna laughnot gonna laugh

 

[The Gator]

What's krista doing in Florida?

My link

 

[bakes]

What's krista doing in Florida?

My link

Poor EG72...

 

[gianmarco]

Only in Florida.

 

[cstu]

Bush, 37, was presumed dead Friday, the victim of a sinkhole -- a hazard so common in Florida that state law requires home insurers to provide coverage against the danger.

 

[Please See Mine]

https://twitter.com/_FloridaMan

 

[Kal El]

Bush, 37, was presumed dead Friday, the victim of a sinkhole -- a hazard so common in Florida that state law requires home insurers to provide coverage against the danger.

They seem to happen more often on the Gulf side. Sucks for this guy, but I'm on the Atlantic side, so it may be a bit safer.

 

[T Bell]

https://twitter.com/_FloridaMan

Awesome Twitter shtick.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

Bush, 37, was presumed dead Friday, the victim of a sinkhole -- a hazard so common in Florida that state law requires home insurers to provide coverage against the danger.

1st I have ever heard of it happening. Native here.

 

[Parrothead]

well, that sucks

 

[krista4]

What's krista doing in Florida?

JFC

Really? I only thought it was funny in the GMTAN, and when funny people did it. This seemed way too obvious. YMMV, I guess.

 

[T Bell]

What's krista doing in Florida?

JFC

Really? I only thought it was funny in the GMTAN, and when funny people did it. This seemed way too obvious. YMMV, I guess.

Look who's on the rag!

 

[krista4]

What's krista doing in Florida?

JFC

Really? I only thought it was funny in the GMTAN, and when funny people did it. This seemed way too obvious. YMMV, I guess.

Look who's on the rag!

OK, NOW you're funny!

 

[PlasmaDogPlasma]

Bush, 37, was presumed dead Friday, the victim of a sinkhole -- a hazard so common in Florida that state law requires home insurers to provide coverage against the danger.

1st I have ever heard of it happening. Native here.

You've never heard of sinkholes in Florida? I find that incredibly hard to believe.

 

[McGarnicle]

Bush, 37, was presumed dead Friday, the victim of a sinkhole -- a hazard so common in Florida that state law requires home insurers to provide coverage against the danger.

1st I have ever heard of it happening. Native here.

You've never heard of sinkholes in Florida? I find that incredibly hard to believe.

The ones from Orlando drink vodka & red bull and are into dudes who wear baggy pants.

 

[DiStefano]

I keep looking for a picture of the sinkhole, but can't find one. There are shots of sinkholes in China and Guatemala, but nothing about this one. I presume it is inside the house and the house looks relatively OK from the outside.Perhaps he just wanted to disappear.

 

[Rayderr]

I'm still trying to figure out how this is possible? Did they not have a floor in the house? Houses are usually either built on a thick concrete slab or raised off the ground a bit and the floor is on joists.

 

[McGarnicle]

I'm still trying to figure out how this is possible? Did they not have a floor in the house? Houses are usually either built on a thick concrete slab or raised off the ground a bit and the floor is on joists.

A massive hole opened up beneath the house, so there is no longer any earth to support the floor.

 

[Premier]

I keep looking for a picture of the sinkhole, but can't find one. There are shots of sinkholes in China and Guatemala, but nothing about this one. I presume it is inside the house and the house looks relatively OK from the outside.Perhaps he just wanted to disappear.

I doubt we see any pictures anytime soon. It is the Nan's tomb after all.

 

[Rayderr]

I'm still trying to figure out how this is possible? Did they not have a floor in the house? Houses are usually either built on a thick concrete slab or raised off the ground a bit and the floor is on joists.

A massive hole opened up beneath the house, so there is no longer any earth to support the floor.

That doesn't really answered the question.

 

[McGarnicle]

I'm still trying to figure out how this is possible? Did they not have a floor in the house? Houses are usually either built on a thick concrete slab or raised off the ground a bit and the floor is on joists.

A massive hole opened up beneath the house, so there is no longer any earth to support the floor.

That doesn't really answered the question.

It does if you understand basic laws of physics and gravity.

 

[Rayderr]

I'm still trying to figure out how this is possible? Did they not have a floor in the house? Houses are usually either built on a thick concrete slab or raised off the ground a bit and the floor is on joists.

A massive hole opened up beneath the house, so there is no longer any earth to support the floor.

That doesn't really answered the question.

It does if you understand basic laws of physics and gravity.

Let's start off with was the house raised or on a slab? If it was raised, then a sinkhole big enough to take out part of the house should've had the whole house imploding.If it was a slab, then that should've enabled some structual integrity to prevent a massive sudden failure, unless the building codes only require a very thin slab. In places I've lived, a 4 foot slab is pretty standard.

 

[Stinger Ray]

I'm still trying to figure out how this is possible? Did they not have a floor in the house? Houses are usually either built on a thick concrete slab or raised off the ground a bit and the floor is on joists.

A massive hole opened up beneath the house, so there is no longer any earth to support the floor.

That doesn't really answered the question.

It does if you understand basic laws of physics and gravity.

 

[Apple Jack]

I'm still trying to figure out how this is possible? Did they not have a floor in the house? Houses are usually either built on a thick concrete slab or raised off the ground a bit and the floor is on joists.

A massive hole opened up beneath the house, so there is no longer any earth to support the floor.

That doesn't really answered the question.

It does if you understand basic laws of physics and gravity.

Let's start off with was the house raised or on a slab? If it was raised, then a sinkhole big enough to take out part of the house should've had the whole house imploding.If it was a slab, then that should've enabled some structual integrity to prevent a massive sudden failure, unless the building codes only require a very thin slab. In places I've lived, a 4 foot slab is pretty standard.

Which doesn't do you much good when the ground that four foot slab is resting on drops 50 ft.

 

[McGarnicle]

I'm still trying to figure out how this is possible? Did they not have a floor in the house? Houses are usually either built on a thick concrete slab or raised off the ground a bit and the floor is on joists.

A massive hole opened up beneath the house, so there is no longer any earth to support the floor.

That doesn't really answered the question.

It does if you understand basic laws of physics and gravity.

Let's start off with was the house raised or on a slab? If it was raised, then a sinkhole big enough to take out part of the house should've had the whole house imploding.If it was a slab, then that should've enabled some structual integrity to prevent a massive sudden failure, unless the building codes only require a very thin slab. In places I've lived, a 4 foot slab is pretty standard.

Any span/thickness of concrete will crumble if enough of the area beneath it collapses. Likewise if enough supports beneath joists are taken out, the weight of the structure and its contents will cause the floor to sag and then collapse as well.The exterior walls of the house were still intact because the sinkhole did not extend far enough out of the house's footprint. Once that happens you would see the walls start to buckle and sag and finally fall. They had to halt the recovery for fear of that happening. Today they are demolishing the house.

 

[Please See Mine]

I'm still trying to figure out how this is possible? Did they not have a floor in the house? Houses are usually either built on a thick concrete slab or raised off the ground a bit and the floor is on joists.

A massive hole opened up beneath the house, so there is no longer any earth to support the floor.

That doesn't really answered the question.

It does if you understand basic laws of physics and gravity.

Let's start off with was the house raised or on a slab? If it was raised, then a sinkhole big enough to take out part of the house should've had the whole house imploding.If it was a slab, then that should've enabled some structual integrity to prevent a massive sudden failure, unless the building codes only require a very thin slab. In places I've lived, a 4 foot slab is pretty standard.

Plus a plane's fuel cannot produce enough heat to melt a steel frame. And why were the impact holes smaller than a commercial airplane?!

 

[DiStefano]

I'm still trying to figure out how this is possible? Did they not have a floor in the house? Houses are usually either built on a thick concrete slab or raised off the ground a bit and the floor is on joists.

A massive hole opened up beneath the house, so there is no longer any earth to support the floor.

That doesn't really answered the question.

It does if you understand basic laws of physics and gravity.

Let's start off with was the house raised or on a slab? If it was raised, then a sinkhole big enough to take out part of the house should've had the whole house imploding.If it was a slab, then that should've enabled some structual integrity to prevent a massive sudden failure, unless the building codes only require a very thin slab. In places I've lived, a 4 foot slab is pretty standard.

Plus a plane's fuel cannot produce enough heat to melt a steel frame. And why were the impact holes smaller than a commercial airplane?!

Because of the second shooter on the grassy knoll.

 

[boilerdave]

I'm still trying to figure out how this is possible? Did they not have a floor in the house? Houses are usually either built on a thick concrete slab or raised off the ground a bit and the floor is on joists.

A massive hole opened up beneath the house, so there is no longer any earth to support the floor.

That doesn't really answered the question.

It does if you understand basic laws of physics and gravity.

Let's start off with was the house raised or on a slab? If it was raised, then a sinkhole big enough to take out part of the house should've had the whole house imploding.If it was a slab, then that should've enabled some structual integrity to prevent a massive sudden failure, unless the building codes only require a very thin slab. In places I've lived, a 4 foot slab is pretty standard.

A 4 foot slab?...as in a 4 foot thick concrete slab? I'm think 4 to 6 inches thick is a typical code standard.

 

[T Bell]

I'm still trying to figure out how this is possible? Did they not have a floor in the house? Houses are usually either built on a thick concrete slab or raised off the ground a bit and the floor is on joists.

A massive hole opened up beneath the house, so there is no longer any earth to support the floor.

That doesn't really answered the question.

It does if you understand basic laws of physics and gravity.

Let's start off with was the house raised or on a slab? If it was raised, then a sinkhole big enough to take out part of the house should've had the whole house imploding.If it was a slab, then that should've enabled some structual integrity to prevent a massive sudden failure, unless the building codes only require a very thin slab. In places I've lived, a 4 foot slab is pretty standard.

A 4 foot slab?...as in a 4 foot thick concrete slab? I'm think 4 to 6 inches thick is a typical code standard.

 

[squidrope]

I'm still trying to figure out how this is possible? Did they not have a floor in the house? Houses are usually either built on a thick concrete slab or raised off the ground a bit and the floor is on joists.

A massive hole opened up beneath the house, so there is no longer any earth to support the floor.

That doesn't really answered the question.

It does if you understand basic laws of physics and gravity.

Let's start off with was the house raised or on a slab? If it was raised, then a sinkhole big enough to take out part of the house should've had the whole house imploding.If it was a slab, then that should've enabled some structual integrity to prevent a massive sudden failure, unless the building codes only require a very thin slab. In places I've lived, a 4 foot slab is pretty standard.

A 4 foot slab?...as in a 4 foot thick concrete slab? I'm think 4 to 6 inches thick is a typical code standard.

 

[rascal]

I'm still trying to figure out how this is possible? Did they not have a floor in the house? Houses are usually either built on a thick concrete slab or raised off the ground a bit and the floor is on joists.

A massive hole opened up beneath the house, so there is no longer any earth to support the floor.

That doesn't really answered the question.

It does if you understand basic laws of physics and gravity.

Let's start off with was the house raised or on a slab? If it was raised, then a sinkhole big enough to take out part of the house should've had the whole house imploding.If it was a slab, then that should've enabled some structual integrity to prevent a massive sudden failure, unless the building codes only require a very thin slab. In places I've lived, a 4 foot slab is pretty standard.

And where have you lived with a 4 foot slab?Most slabs are 4" with some going to 6". Furthermore, while concrete is good with compressive it is naturally very weak in tension (hence reinforced concrete and prestressed concrete). When the sinkhole occured the portions under the hole no longer had any support. Therefore, the areas just on the edge of the sinkhole were now subjected to a high tension load as they were supporting the concrete/house over the sinkhole. Obviously the concrete couldn't withstand that stress and it gave.

 

[Wingnut]

They started tearing the house down Sunday. You can't see any of the sinkhole from aerial shots. Its completely contained inside the house.And while quite common in Florida, fatalities in sinkholes are not. The few I've heard of were from people falling in after the fact - this is the first I've heard of someone dying by actually being swallowed by one as it happened.Its a crazy story that is being covered 24/7 here.

 

[Rayderr]

I'm still trying to figure out how this is possible? Did they not have a floor in the house? Houses are usually either built on a thick concrete slab or raised off the ground a bit and the floor is on joists.

A massive hole opened up beneath the house, so there is no longer any earth to support the floor.

That doesn't really answered the question.

It does if you understand basic laws of physics and gravity.

Let's start off with was the house raised or on a slab? If it was raised, then a sinkhole big enough to take out part of the house should've had the whole house imploding.If it was a slab, then that should've enabled some structual integrity to prevent a massive sudden failure, unless the building codes only require a very thin slab. In places I've lived, a 4 foot slab is pretty standard.

A 4 foot slab?...as in a 4 foot thick concrete slab? I'm think 4 to 6 inches thick is a typical code standard.

Now see, that makes sense. If only someone had been nice enough to mention that earlier. My house in VA had about a 4 foot slab, but then, it also was along the river.

 

[Wingnut]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mobileweb/2013/03/04/second-sinkhole-forms-in-_n_2807986.html'> Second sinkhole forms 2 miles from first one

 

[Quez]

I worked for a firm that did sinkhole work from 2010-2012. When I got there it was booming with work, then they passed legislation that made it more difficult to get insurance.

The sinkhole companies are already blaming the legislation for this disaster. However, it was way too easy to get a sinkhole settlement before. You could have a minor crack, get money, and not even use the money for repairs. Many times they would collect the money while the home was in foreclosure.

The cause of many of these sinkholes is from pumping too much water out of the aquifer. Many open up in the winter during hard freezes when the strawberry farmers keep the water all night to prevent the strawberries from going under 32.

They have built a few desalination plants but they don't use them much because they are too expensive. Pinellas Co (St. Pete) has pumped all of the fresh water out of the aquifers beneath their county so they actually own wells in adjacent counties. This pumping causes sinkholes as well.

Sinkholes are also helping to drive insurance cost way up. The avg. homeowners policy has gone up over 60% since 04, although most is contributed to the hurricanes that hit the state in 04.

 

[Dentist]

sounds like a bad beat

 

[St. Louis Bob]

Now I'm starting to get freaked the #### out. Yes, I've played there before.

 

[Kal El]

Now I'm starting to get freaked the #### out. Yes, I've played there before.

That's a two-stroke penalty, I believe.

 

[heckmanm]

Now I'm starting to get freaked the #### out. Yes, I've played there before.

It was the first time a person — and not a ball — has disappeared beneath the turf in the course’s 20-year history.

 

[Jewell]

Now I'm starting to get freaked the #### out. Yes, I've played there before.

It was the first time a person — and not a ball — has disappeared beneath the turf in the course’s 20-year history.

One in Hole

 

[falguy]

Fortunately Lift, clean and place rules were in effect.

 

[glock]

"Forr...ehrm, ...look out beloooww!!"

 

[Rayderr]

That's one heck of a divot.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

Now I'm starting to get freaked the #### out. Yes, I've played there before.

It was the first time a person — and not a ball — has disappeared beneath the turf in the course’s 20-year history.

One in Hole

 

[Parrothead]

Cinderella story, tears in his eyes, HE'S IN THE HOLE!!