A sinkhole scare in Palm Harbor forced an elderly woman to evacuate her home, while officials take extra precautions in the wake of the Seffner sinkhole tragedy.
Officials said caretaker Deborah Wiksten did everything right after she spotted signs of a sinkhole when she arrived at the home on Harbor Drive to care for 88-year-old Elsie Hall.
"It was creaky," she said. "The windows were shaking a little bit."
Wiksten said she had never experienced those things at the home before, and neither has Hall.
"As far as I know there is nothing wrong with the foundation of the house," she said.
Officials said the homeowner also reported that part of the home's Terrazzo flooring separated from concrete and made a loud pop.
Later, officials said the home was cleared by a Pinellas County building inspector, who determined there was no imminent threat that the home would collapse.
Officials said they are taking extra precautions after the sinkhole in Seffner, which swallowed a man as he slept in his bed, and that a lot of homeowners are on edge.
"Given the fact that what happened in Seffner is fresh in everyones memory and how it's a catastrophic loss of life, we want to make sure that that doesn't happen again here," Palm Harbor Fire Rescue District Chief Dan Zang said.
Vincent Lubrano, who owns Sinkhole Remediation Services, said Wiksten did the right thing.
"Who knows what could happen a day from now in the home," Lubrano said. "But certainly, any homeowners in this area or if you live in the state of Florida especially Pasco, Pinellas, Hernando and Citrus counties, if you have cracking you should probably call your insurance company to be tested."
Wiksten has returned to the home. She said Hall is in talks with her insurance company to determine how to move forward.