Sinkholes - What's the deal?

[Butterbean]

Car, driver tumble into giant sinkhole amid rainstorm

Rescuer was walking across North Ave. bridge before incident
By Mary Louise Schumacher of the Journal Sentinel

Posted: July 22, 2010

Storms pound city, snarl traffic, flood streets
Sinkhole swallows car, driver
MMSD, Milwaukee OK $8 million in emergency measures to reduce basement backups
Around the Web:


***

Mark Pawlik, 46, was walking across the North Ave. bridge and talking to his friend on the phone when he noticed a traffic light had sunk into the ground.

Just the red, yellow and green lights were above street level. He told his friend he'd call him back. It was still pouring rain, but he wanted to stop and take a picture.

A moment later a man driving a black Escalade pulled up to the intersection at North and Oakland avenues, going east on North Ave.

"The Escalade just went wham!" Pawlik said. "Everything went down. The power line went like 'pow' and then I think it was sewer water was just pouring into the hole."

Pawlik leaned over the edge of the sinkhole, which was then about 15 feet by 15 feet.

"I said, 'Hey, man, are you OK, are you OK?' "

Pawlik said the man kept saying, "What happened? What just happened?"

The driver pulled himself onto the hood and then fell down into the hole. He pulled himself back up onto the hood, and Pawlik took his hand and then his belt loop to get him out of the hole. He said he was the only person in the car.

By that time, several people had gathered around the edge of the hole.

Pawlik could see that the ground had given way beneath the asphalt and yelled at people to get back.

Pawlik said he and several others tried to reach 911 but got busy signals, so a few people flagged down a city bus and asked the driver to call in the emergency.

Police arrived and put emergency tape up, and an ambulance took the driver of the Escalade away.

Pawlik, who owns a towing company, said the hole was about 20 feet deep.

***

At a 9:45 p.m. news conference, Milwaukee Police Chief Edward Flynn said crews were still on the scene with the Escalade, which was still running because it had been filled with gas just before the incident.

[tonymctones]

LOL i thought the same thing this is like the 3rd one to happen recently...

[Princess L]

We had A LOT of rain that day - something like 7 inches in less than an hour.  The flooding was massive.  The damage to property has been unbelievable.  Many homes have collapsed from all the water.  A couple of people drowned too.   The Escalade stayed running well into the next day 

FEMA is finally hitting the area tomorrow.

[newmom]

We had A LOT of rain that day - something like 7 inches in less than an hour.  The flooding was massive.  The damage to property has been unbelievable.  Many homes have collapsed from all the water.  A couple of people drowned too.   The Escalade stayed running well into the next day 

FEMA is finally hitting the area tomorrow.

Jesus took them long enough

[Princess L]

Jesus took them long enough

In their defense, I don't think Milwaukee was prompt in their "request" for assistance.  I think that's what I heard, although wasn't that the same story in New Orleans?

[newmom]

In their defense, I don't think Milwaukee was prompt in their "request" for assistance.  I think that's what I heard, although wasn't that the same story in New Orleans?

Not for nothing, but they should'nt wait for engraved invitation either. They react to slowly if you ask me

[Overload]

I'm a Civil Engineer, so i can explain this a "bit".

-Heavy rains soaking into dry ground that has cracked and expanded due to last years dry spells is now a breeding ground for sink holes.

-Improper engineering of storm sewers and paving. (usually in 3rd world countries)

-Improper maintenance of public/private infrastructure in your area due to budget cuts. Storm sewers or water lines may be leaking water underground for YEARS before anyone has a clue. Depending on the type of soils, this can lead to underground erosion that can seep hundreds of feet down or in any direction.

We had a 36" waterline leaking here in Houston for almost 2 years before it developed a sinkhole the size of a football field. We have a lot of clay in our soils down here, so we have it easy. In other areas of the US there are more sandy soils that erode very quickly.

The massive holes in South America are due to poor design of underground utilities and improper stabilization of subgrade materials under paving. If a road is designed correctly with the proper paving thickness, subgrade and base materials, a sink hole should not cause the paving to fracture unless a heavy load goes over it.

This is why people need to be aware of supporting programs to increase revenue for public infrastructure improvements. This will also help with flooding issues in your area.

I give seminars on these things all the time, if you have any direct questions please ask.

[Princess L]

Not for nothing, but they should'nt wait for engraved invitation either. They react to slowly if you ask me

Most people don't have flood insurance either - and why would they unless they're in a flood plane    I'm lucky.  I live on a hill which is pretty much a gravel pit, so my basement is always dry as a bone.

I do have what is becoming a sinkhole in the yard    I haven't figured out what critter is creating it.  I used to think it was a fox hole, but this year it's gotten much bigger and now there's a second hole.  I'll have to take a picture.  Maybe bench can identify.

[newmom]

Most people don't have flood insurance either - and why would they unless they're in a flood plane    I'm lucky.  I live on a hill which is pretty much a gravel pit, so my basement is always dry as a bone.

I do have what is becoming a sinkhole in the yard    I haven't figured out what critter is creating it.  I used to think it was a fox hole, but this year it's gotten much bigger and now there's a second hole.  I'll have to take a picture.  Maybe bench can identify.

Lucky you living on a hill. After the last few heavy rains that caused flooding here, we put a sub pump in the basement. Using the water vac took way to flipping long to do..ugh..

I bet bench could indentify it, fly him there and hill shoot what ever it is in ONE clear shot

[Butterbean]

We had A LOT of rain that day - something like 7 inches in less than an hour.  The flooding was massive.  The damage to property has been unbelievable.  Many homes have collapsed from all the water.  A couple of people drowned too.  

 

I'm a Civil Engineer, so i can explain this a "bit".

-Heavy rains soaking into dry ground that has cracked and expanded due to last years dry spells is now a breeding ground for sink holes.

-Improper engineering of storm sewers and paving. (usually in 3rd world countries)

-Improper maintenance of public/private infrastructure in your area due to budget cuts. Storm sewers or water lines may be leaking water underground for YEARS before anyone has a clue. Depending on the type of soils, this can lead to underground erosion that can seep hundreds of feet down or in any direction.

We had a 36" waterline leaking here in Houston for almost 2 years before it developed a sinkhole the size of a football field. We have a lot of clay in our soils down here, so we have it easy. In other areas of the US there are more sandy soils that erode very quickly.

The massive holes in South America are due to poor design of underground utilities and improper stabilization of subgrade materials under paving. If a road is designed correctly with the proper paving thickness, subgrade and base materials, a sink hole should not cause the paving to fracture unless a heavy load goes over it.

This is why people need to be aware of supporting programs to increase revenue for public infrastructure improvements. This will also help with flooding issues in your area.

I give seminars on these things all the time, if you have any direct questions please ask.

Thanks, very informative Overload!