Florida’s Top 10 Sinkhole-Prone Counties

March 30, 2011

It’s no secret that property/casualty insurers have been fielding more and more sinkhole claims in Florida and now online hazard mapping firm CDS Business Mapping and its RiskMeter Online service have come up with a list of the top 10 sinkhole prone counties in Florida.

The list is based on information from the company’s RiskMeter’s sinkhole database and its sinkhole clearinghouse, which the company says contains more than 12,000 sinkholes not available from public sources.

Sinkhole losses have been on the rise the last few years in Florida. According to a report by the state, 211 property insurers responded that claims increased from 2,360 in 2006 to 6,694 in 2010, totaling 24,671 claims. The total dollar amount of those claims was approximately $1.4 billion.

RiskMeter’s Top 10 Sinkhole-Prone Counties in Florida are:

Pasco
Hernando
Hillsborough
Marion
Pinellas
Citrus
Polk
Orange
Seminole
Lake

Daniel Munson, founder, RiskMeter.com, said many insurers are under the impression there are just a few counties affected by sinkholes, but in reality there are at least 10.

RiskMeter said its sinkhole report can help underwriters and agents quickly assess sinkhole risk. By simply typing in an address, it’s possible to get the number of sinkholes within a given radius or multiple radii, the distance to closest sinkhole and the date of the closest sinkholes.

The company’s Sinkhole Clearinghouse gives participating carriers access to an exclusive claims database. Currently, it contains more than 12,000 sinkholes “not available from public sources,” according to Munson.

RiskMeter Online (RiskMeter.com) is used by underwriters and agents to automate property lookups. The Web-based solution utilizes Internet mapping technology to enable underwriters to determine the proximity to natural hazards for any property in the United States. It provides more than 30 real-time reports, including distance to coast, FEMA flood zones, rating territories, windpool eligibility, earthquake information and more.

Topics Florida

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Featured Comment

December 4, 2015 at 11:39 pm

Newt Houser says:

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Florida has no real bedrock, except for the far northern panhandle. The state is really one big limestone reef with sand over it. The major determiner of future sinkholes is going to be the thickness of the sand above that limestone. The thicker the sand, the less likely there will be sinkhole activity. Population density compounds that because groundwater helps hold up the ground, and the more groundwater that gets pumped out the more likely there will be sinkhole activity. Look at the soil densities and the population density at the areas you are looking to move to. There are county by county maps that show either. Generally, the west coast of the state has the highest population density and least amount of soil over the limestone and have the highest incidence of sinkhole activity. Keep in mind that houses here ALL will have some settling and cracking, since every home is built on a slab – no basements, and on sand. But don’t let a real estate agent fool you with that info. Minor settling is different than huge stair stepping cracks. It’s critical all homes have gutters and good drainage to move water away from foundations – many Florida homes don’t. And a word on insurance – it’s expensive just for basic coverage; much more than you paid up North – $2000 a year or more. Figure on DOUBLING that amount to add sinkhole coverage. Your basic insurance coverage will cover your home if the home is declared condemned by the county due to a sinkhole. Additional sinkhole coverage covers repairs due to settling and cracking from sinkhole activity. Keep in mind that an un-repaired sinkhole home is generally worth 25 cents on the dollar – repaired it’s worth 50 cents on the dollar. If you still have a mortgage your bank may force you to repair it. And depending on the repair estimate your insurance company may choose to buy out the home/policy if it’s cheaper than repairing. Don’t count on the counties or realtors to give you the straight story on sinkhole activity – neither makes tax or commission money shying prospective buyers away. I’ve seen Levittown-type developments springing up all over the worst sinkhole counties in Florida for the last 20 years, it’s happening TODAY, and nothing is stopping them.

Latest Comments

June 17, 2024 at 6:30 pm

Brell says:

*pays off mortgage* *tries to sell* SINKHOLE...
May 9, 2022 at 12:14 am

Joy Cummings says:

Thank you so much for the detailed info . You have opened my eyes & will print your comment & will let my husband read it , hoping he will agree with me not to move to... read more
May 8, 2022 at 11:47 pm

Joy Cummings says:

I saw a gorgeous house in Spring Hill & really love it but after reading some reviews & especially yours, I think I have to discuss it further to my husband since he's... read more