Should You Worry About Funnels?
There is currently a hunger crater in Florida thathas swallowed seven homes in the past month – the largest in 30 years. It’s a disturbing sight, but how much should you worry about them?
What are funnels?
Funnels, the USGS Water Science School explained , are tracts of land that do not have natural external surface drainage. When it rains, water accumulates in a sinkhole and then flows into the bowels, eroding limestone, carbonate rocks, salt layers and other poorly soluble bedrocks that form spaces and caverns below. Eventually, underground there is not enough support for the surface of the earth, and it is crumbling.
Funnels range in size from a few feet wide to hundreds of acres, often over 100 feet deep, which can be incredibly damaging in areas with houses and roads. Some funnels hold water quite well and turn into natural bodies of water.
How often do they occur? And where?
We do not know how often they occur, because there is not enough data on the natural phenomenon. Many of these occur in agricultural areas or locations where there are no people to follow and there is no national database of funnels to check.
However, we know where they occur most often. Funnels are most commonly found in areas where the rock below the earth’s surface is composed of limestone, carbonate rock, and salt strata. Florida, Texas, Alabama, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, eastern New York, Indiana, southeastern Minnesota, and parts of South Dakota, Wyoming, New Mexico, and Oklahoma.
What are the warning signs of funnels?
Funnels form very slowly, so they are difficult to predict, and there may be no warning signs at all. However, watch out for fresh foundation cracks in your home and other buildings, and watch out for skewed door frames that prevent your door from closing properly. Other signs include a tree in the yard that suddenly begins to tilt to the side, and cracks in the ground outside. If you see these things, avoid the area and don’t go near cracks or dents in the ground. Contact someone who can safely explore the area.
Does insurance cover damage?
Unfortunately, natural sinkholes are considered “ground movement”, which puts them in the same category as earthquakes. This means that funnels are rarely, if ever, covered by your standard homeowner insurance plan . This may be an additional add-on to your provider, but otherwise you will have to purchase a separate insurance policy for the funnels.
However, Florida law says that home insurers must offer residents protection against “catastrophic soil collapse.” So, if you are a Florida resident with homeowner insurance, you may already be insured. But it’s best to double check to be safe. And if you live in an area with former coal mines, you can also get mine subsidence insurance. Check with your state’s insurance department to find out what coverage is available to you.
Should you worry about funnels?
Not required, but it depends on where you live. Most failures will not result in death, but it is possible, especially if the failure occurs in a direction below you without warning. If your home is in one of the areas listed above, make sure you have at least funnel insurance.
And you should always pay close attention to the warning signs, even when driving through these areas. Many injuries and deaths occur when people accidentally drive into a funnel on the road . For the most part, however, stay alert, make sure you’re always prepared for an emergency , and don’t worry too much about the Earth trying to consume you.