Call or Text (845) 265-2220 ☰ ˟
Manage Policy File a Claim
Logo
Call or Text
(845) 265-2220
  • Home
  • Get A Quote
    • AutomobileImage of right arrow
      • Auto Insurance Quote
      • Auto Quote Form (short)
    • Bonds
    • Business & CommercialImage of right arrow
      • Commercial Auto Insurance Quote
      • General Liability Quote Form
      • Business Owners (BOP) Quote Form
      • Builders Risk
      • Liquor Liability Quote Form
      • Workers Compensation Quote
      • Community Association Quote Form
      • Community Association Workers Compensation Quote Form
    • Farm
    • Flood
    • Health
    • HomeownersImage of right arrow
      • Homeowners Insurance Quote
      • Manufactured Home Quote
      • Homeowner Flood Quote Form
      • Community Association Unit Owners (HO-6) Quote Form
    • LifeImage of right arrow
      • Life Insurance Quote
      • Term Life Insurance Quote
    • LimousineImage of right arrow
      • Limousine Quote
      • Bond Request Form (TLC)
      • Workers Compensation Quote Form (Livery)
      • General Liability Quote Form (Livery)
    • Motorcycle
    • Recreational Vehicle
    • Renters
    • Trucking
    • Watercraft & Boat
  • Customer Service
    • AutomobileImage of right arrow
      • Request ID Card for Auto Policy
      • Request Declaration and Coverages Page for Auto Policy
      • Send Declaration and Coverages Information to Lien Holder
      • Add Vehicle to Existing Auto Policy
      • Remove Vehicle from Existing Auto Policy
      • Add Driver to Existing Auto Policy
      • Remove Driver from Existing Auto Policy
    • Business & CommercialImage of right arrow
      • Request ID Card for Commercial Auto Policy
      • Request Declaration and Coverages Page for Commercial Auto Policy
      • Add Vehicle to Existing Commercial Auto Policy
      • Remove Vehicle from Existing Commercial Auto Policy
      • Add Driver to Existing Commercial Auto Policy
      • Remove Driver from Existing Commercial Auto Policy
      • Request General Liability Certificate of Insurance
      • A Community Association Certificate Request Form
      • Request a General Liability Certificate of Insurance with Additional Insured
    • HomeownersImage of right arrow
      • Request Declaration and Coverages for Existing Homeowners Insurance Coverage
      • Request Evidence of Insurance
    • MotorcycleImage of right arrow
      • Request ID Card for Motorcycle Policy
      • Add Motorcycle to Existing Policy
      • Remove Motorcycle from Existing Policy
    • OtherImage of right arrow
      • Policy Review Request
      • Consent to Receive Electronic Records
    • Watercraft & BoatImage of right arrow
      • Request ID Card for Watercraft Policy
      • Add Watercraft to Existing Policy
      • Remove Watercraft from Existing Policy
  • Claims
    • Automobile
    • Business & Commercial
    • Flood
    • Homeowners
    • Motorcycle
    • Renters
    • Watercraft & Boat
  • Blog
  • Make a Payment
  • Resources
    • Secure File Area
    • Refer a Friend
    • Important Links
    • Calculators
    • Important Files
    • Free Reports
    • Insurance Glossary
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • News Center
  • About Us
    • About Gerelli Insurance Agency, Inc.
    • Location Map
    • Employee Directory
    • Customer Testimonials
    • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
    • Contact Us
    • Join Our Newsletter
Icon Icon Icon Icon Icon Icon
Home > Blog > What We Know About Sinkholes, and What We Don’t
FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2019

What We Know About Sinkholes, and What We Don’t

Imagine this: You’re leaving your house, ready to tackle the working day, only to discover a large, inexplicable hole where your car is supposed to be. 

That’s the thing about sinkholes. They’re just baffling. At first glance, sinkholes are nature’s slapstick: sudden, unpredictable, dramatic and absurd. But there’s a serious side, too – lives have been lost in sinkholes, and the U.S. Geological Survey estimates that sinkholes cause about $300 million in damage per year. 

So what causes them? And is there anything homeowners can do to protect themselves? Let’s find out.
 

Causes of a Sinkhole

What is a sinkhole, and how does it form? The cause is simple to understand: moving groundwater erodes rock below the soil. That creates a large cavity, which collapses.

It seems like that should be an easy thing to detect… you know, with the giant cavern involved.  But the answer isn’t so simple. 

The problem is that the methods that excel at detecting these cavities directly – ground-penetrating radar, for example – are difficult to deploy at scale. The methods that can cover large areas depend on surface signs that are a lot less reliable. 

In 2014, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory discovered they can detect surface ground movement with their InSAR satellite program. But not every sinkhole exhibits this behavior before the ground caves in. Also, buildings tend to get in the way for this technique to be reliable. 

There are risk factors that can make sinkholes a bit easier to predict. Mining operations sometime destabilize the ground in ways that promote sinkholes. Weather plays a role, as well – tropical and moist climates experience more sinkholes than dry ones. Sinkholes can also be triggered by heavy rainfalls or burst sewers and pipes.
 

Where Are Sinkholes Most Commonly Found?

Sinkholes are more common where the bedrock is soluble – usually limestone or dolomite rock. Florida sits on a giant slab of limestone, which is why it’s particularly sinkhole-prone. The U.S. Geological Survey reports that about 20 percent of U.S. land is susceptible to sinkholes, mostly in the following states:

  • Alabama
  • Florida
  • Kentucky
  • Missouri
  • Pennsylvania
  • Tennessee
  • Texas
     

How Common Are Sinkholes?

The risk of a severe occurrence is low. Of all the sinkholes that open up in any given year, researchers estimate the risk of catastrophic damage at a one-in-100 chance – but it’s difficult to get a precise number. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, some (but not all) states track reported sinkhole collapses, but there is no national database. 

What’s more, many observed sinkholes are never reported to state geologic surveys… and a sinkhole that opens in a remote rural area may never be seen or reported at all. Curious about sinkholes in your specific area? Contact your county property appraiser. He or she might know additional details, such as the availability of a statewide geological database. 

If you suspect there is a sinkhole on your property, steer clear of the affected area (and keep kids and pets away, too). Consider marking it with fencing or tape. Then, call an expert such as a geological testing firm to determine next steps. It’s a good idea to let your insurance agent know, too.
 

Sinkholes and Insurance

This can get complicated, since available coverage varies by state. The Insurance Information Institute offers some helpful background about how sinkhole coverage works in different areas. For questions about what your specific policy can (and can’t) cover, contact an insurance professional like your Erie Insurance agent.

Does car insurance cover sinkholes? 

Sinkhole damage can be covered if you’ve chosen to add optional comprehensive coverage to your auto insurance policy. (That’s the same coverage that can protect you from non-collision related damage, like a falling tree branch or hitting a deer.) Learn more about understanding your auto policy.
 

Does homeowners insurance cover sinkholes?

Generally speaking, most typical homeowners insurance policies (including those from ERIE) don’t cover damage from earth movement. That includes earthquakes, mudslides and sinkholes. Flood damage is also not covered by a typical homeowners policy. Flood insurance is usually purchased separately through the National Flood Insurance Program.

Read more: How Does Flood Insurance Work (And How Can I Add it To My Policy)?

So, why are sinkholes excluded from a typical homeowners policy?

“With a sinkhole, there’s usually no warning – and it’s typically something that can’t be prevented,” says Tammy Kula, a home product development specialist at ERIE. “However, the damage to the bedrock has been happening silently underground for months and years. That’s not ‘sudden and accidental,’ which is what typical homeowners insurance is designed to protect.” 

Some states (like Florida and Tennessee) require insurers to offer optional sinkhole coverage for an additional premium. Good news: If you’re an ERIE policyholder in Tennessee, sinkhole collapse coverage is included at no extra charge to your homeowners policy.

Elsewhere, ERIE policyholders can typically add sinkhole protection separately with the sinkhole collapse endorsement. This endorsement can cover damage due to a sinkhole by natural means, such as groundwater that erodes limestone or dolomite rock. It can protect your home, other structures (such as a garage or shed) and your personal property up to the stated limits on your policy.

Let’s face it: Life can be weird and unpredictable. At ERIE, our local agents can help you feel confident about your insurance protection so anxiety doesn’t hold you back from enjoying what really matters in life. Learn more about homeowners insurance and request a quote.

Posted 8:13 PM

Share |


No Comments


Post a Comment
Required
Required (Not Displayed)
Required


All comments are moderated and stripped of HTML.

NOTICE: This blog and website are made available by the publisher for educational and informational purposes only. It is not be used as a substitute for competent insurance, legal, or tax advice from a licensed professional in your state. By using this blog site you understand that there is no broker client relationship between you and the blog and website publisher.
Blog Archive
  • 2025
  • 2024
  • 2023
  • 2022
  • 2021
  • 2020
  • 2019
  • 2018
  • 2017
  • 2016
  • 2015
  • 2014
  • 2013
  • 2012

  • directors and officers liability(1)

View Mobile Version
Facebook
LinkedIn
Twitter
Google+
Get Directions
Contact Us Today
Resources
Products
Customer Service
Payment Options
Report a Claim
News
About Us
Refer A Friend
Our Carriers
Blog
Contact Us
Contact us PO Box 362
Cold Spring, NY 10516

Ph: (845) 265-2220
Fx: (845) 265-4754
E: plservice@Gerelli-Insurance.com
© Copyright. All rights reserved. Powered by Insurance Website Builder.