NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. -- A state geologist with the Department of Environmental Protection has determined that a depression in the Moon Lake area of Pasco County is a sinkhole.
- DEP says depression in Pasco is a sinkhole
- Voluntary evacuation issued for 6 homes
- Crews back at site to assess depression
Officials continued Tuesday to assess the 16 x 16 hole behind mobile homes in the Caribbean Estates Mobile Home Park in New Port Richey. The sinkhole did not grow overnight despite heavy rainfall, DEP said.
The mobile home park's manager, Hary Welch, said Tuesday afternoon that an insurance engineer was at the site examining the sinkhole. Welch went on to say repairs would begin as soon as possible following the engineer's recommendation.
"At first, I wasn't concerned. I figured it was just an impression of sorts," said Russ Root, on-site manager for Caribbean Estates. "Now I can see it's gotten bigger since I looked at it this morning."
Pasco County officials referred to the hole as a depression when it first opened Monday, prior to the state geologist's assesment.
"I wasn't shocked," said resident Kathie Dheel. "You live in Florida, these things happen, but I never thought it would happen in my backyard."
Residents in six homes remain under a voluntary evacuation order after the 10-foot hole opened Monday afternoon at the park, located at 11700 Pearl Drive.
The majority of those residents did leave Monday but at least one resident planned to wait and see if the depression would get any larger.
"I thought it was something small until I seen all the tape," said resident Lois Scott. "Then when I seen it and how large it is, I said, 'that could go either way, you know -- any one of these houses could go."
Emergency workers placed red tags on the houses in the most danger.
"Those are unsafe for entry," said Pasco County Head of Public Safety Kevin Guthrie. "That's all it means, is that it's unsafe for entry and those individuals will not be allowed to go back into those homes until those red tags are removed."
Dheel's home was among those marked unsafe.
"If it's dangerous to where I may not be able to live there, when can I go in and start getting my stuff out?" she asked. "I know it's just stuff, but there's things in there that you can't replace."
Residents with questions about the latest developments with the sinkhole situation can call Pasco County Customer Service at 727-847-2411.