Seffner sinkhole is in the home stretch - hopefully

The crew has finished with filling the sinkhole with grout.   Monday it will be topped off with fill dirt.    Tuesday the engineers and geologists will return to take soil samples and test the ground with that fancy equipment.

I met my tenant there today to get a key to the apartment because the engineers will also have to inspect the inside for structural damage.   If they deem the building safe and there is no new sinkhole action on the property, the county will remove the evacuation signs and she can move back in to her apartment.

What a long strange trip this has been.

False alarm - Seffner sinkhole drama

I learned that recently filled sinkholes are steamy.  To someone, steam resembles smoke. Of course that someone called Hillsborough County Fire Rescue and reported a fire at my sinkhole tonight.

Seriously.

False alarm. I'm sure Bay News 9 will be at the scene soon interviewing anyone who walks by.

Day 4 of filling the Seffner sinkhole

Cement mixes with the foam to create a grout that is lighter than the soil/sand currently in the yard. 20 trucks so far this week and probably 3-4 more today. They expect to be done with this process this afternoon. Next the ground is tested again. After that passes, top soil will be added and they are done.

Ten truckloads today - grout (cement mixture) Seffner sinkhole

I've been calling the filler cement/foam for three days and they like to call it grout. Getting closer to the top.

West wall of sinkhole dropped some dirt this AM

Seffner sinkhole filling - drone photos

My home has the brown shingle roof.  The neighbor's garage has tile roof.  His property faces clay pit road which is the address the news reporters are using for the sinkhole.  They are also incorrectly reporting who is the owner, etc.   works for me.  I don't want to be in the news.  This has been an interesting, stressful, and shocking experience.  I'm still in shock.   I am amazed at how quickly they got started but the county was pushing because this is a public hazard.  My house has no structural damage at this point. They will monitor it as well.  They say it will be the safest house around!

Seffner sinkhole being filled - drone photos

I have to post these in small groups due to the size of the photos. I have some videos too and when I figure out how to get them out of Dropbox and in to YouTube I will post the links.  The drone is very cool. This is a guy who lives in the neighborhood and does this as a hobby, films weddings, etc.

The contractors are in the red shirts.  Engineer in green. No way I would get that close!

Sinkhole filling being filmed by drone

Drone lift off and filming

Drone filming of sinkhole

Sinkhole - minutes before cement installation

Sinkhole repair

Sinkhole repair begins

Sinkhole update

The engineers and geological engineers have decided to fill the hole with expandable cement. That process will begin Tuesday morning at 9 AM. They estimate 650 yards at a minimum cost of $50,000. My insurance will pay that amount. For now, the house doesn't have any visible damage.

It has been a very stressful three days and this next step will take at least three days. They have to slowly fill the hole and constantly check for activity.

We expect the drone will shoot overhead photos tomorrow while the hole is being filled. I will post pictures as I get them.

The news has been there all day and they were still there at 6:00 PM when I left.

Three ring circus continues

Engineers at sinkhole

My insurance adjustor and engineer arrived.   Survey and ground testing equipment has been requested and so the process begins.   They need a few hours to get started so I'm headed home and will return later.  My duplex in the distance. Nighbor's garage in foreground with tile roof.

Full news representation of sinkhole

Every local channel was here today and I think they will stay all day.  The univision channel reporter was using an iPhone and selfie stick!  Low overhead!

Sinkhole Sunday Nov 1 noon

The side of the sinkhole is up to the foundation of the duplex now.  It is eerie.  Well to me anyway.  These pics were shot by a very brave county code enforcement employee.

Sinkhole - first pic

The first pic is from when the sinkhole was first discovered Friday night around 7 PM. the second picture was shot today, Sunday, November 1. It has significantly expanded and the edge is against the foundation of my duplex.

Sinkhole day two

The house on the right side of this photo with the brown roof is my duplex. I don't live here. I had a tenant in this side of the house. She was evacuated Friday night. The other side was recently vacated and 100% rehabbed. In fact, I just had $1200 worth of carpet installed last week. I have to laugh or else I would cry. I also replaced a bathtub and put a surround in the shower. Crazy, right? I'm in shock. I've been in a two day shock.