A Sinking Feeling
Jessica Shiane Grasso

With the New Year approaching, homeowners in Pasco and Hernando counties are in for an insurance surprise; a surprise that comes with the blessings of Governor Charlie Christ and Senator Mike Fasano (R). What kind of surprise will these homeowners be receiving you may ask? According to the editorial A Sinking Feeling in Pasco and Hernando published in The Tampa Tribune on September 28, 2009, the surprise will not be a good one and should not feel new to the residents of these two counties. In January 2010 residents of Pasco and Hernando Counties will have the pleasure of having their standard sinkhole coverage, which offers insurance protection against major and minor damage to homes from sinkholes, traded out for something that the state calls "Catastrophic Collapse Coverage." While the name of this new law seems protective of the two counties known to the state as "Sinkhole Alley", it in fact reduces coverage to homes leaving more than 50% of homeowners at risk of uninsurable damage. This new law will punish homeowners for the mishaps of their community’s developers and permitting system.

The new law is very similar to one passed in 2007 for the customers of state-controlled Citizens Property Insurance Corporation. The 2007 law also affected only the counties of Pasco and Hernando Counties meaning that yet again, in 2010 they are singled out.

One might ask why Governor Christ and Senator Fasano might agree to this change that will leave homeowners so vulnerable. According to the editorial, Fasano claims that the new law will, "cut property insurance rates while corralling overzealous lawyers who make a living off of sinkhole litigation." Fasano claims that the items covered under the previously offered standard sinkhole coverage are merely "bells and whistles." This may seem like a great goal; however it still allows many insured homeowners to lack necessary coverage. While sinkholes are common in Pasco and Hernando county, catastrophic ground collapse is not. The new law will only cover homes that are deemed uninhabitable and will not cover the now seemingly "minor" damage caused by sinkholes such as a home’s roof separating from its walls, a floor buckling and cracks to the interior and exterior of homes. Damages from a standard, non-catastrophic, sinkhole can result in a loss of over $100,000 to the homeowner that will now be uncovered by the new Catastrophic Ground Loss coverage. Many feel that since sinkholes are not specific only to the areas of Pasco and Hernando counties Governor Christ and Senator Fasano should reevaluate their new law and recognize its bias towards two counties.

To see the editorial from The Tampa Tribune go to
http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/sep/28/ED_Sinks/news-opinion-editorials/

Horizontal Surface Elevation Survey Guidelines (HS-08)
José C. Busquets, EI

A Horizontal Surface Elevation Survey (HSES) determines the relative state of level of a structure’s horizontal surfaces and is a diagnostic tool that has gained popularity with professionals over the last ten years. HSESs have been utilized by Geotechnical Engineers and Geologists when investigating problematic subsurface conditions. They have also been utilized by Structural Engineers when assessing structures with respect to differential displacement or movement. This diagnostic tool along with visual observations and other non-invasive testing methods allow the Engineers and Geologists to assess the structure’s existing condition so as to determine where to focus exploratory drilling or to determine whether the structure has been affected by displacement.

Although HSESs have gained popularity, they have evolved in the absence of published standard and established consistency. Regardless of whether information has been collected and processed correctly, this lack of established consistency has made it difficult for a peer reviewer to be able to adequately review the information collected by another professional.

The HS-08 guidelines published by FAS³ intend to provide this necessary standard that will result in consistency throughout the industry. These guidelines will allow for HSESs to be performed and processed by any investigating party. The standard will also allow HSESs to be peer reviewed with the knowledge that the survey was performed in accordance with an industry standard.

A copy of the HS-08 standard is availble from the FAS3 website at www.fas3.org. You must first login or register with the website to download the standard.