You're about to finish your dinner.
Suddenly the table starts shaking.
It feels like an earthquake.
You get up, and try to get to safety,
but it's too late.
The ground roars,
and it sounds like
the gates of hell are opening.
Before you can make a move,
your entire home is underground.
Sinkholes are pits in the ground,
formed when water in the atmosphere
reacts with carbon dioxide
and forms a slightly acidic water.
When it goes underground,
it circulates through sediment
like limestone, dissolving it.
Eventually, this erosion creates big caves
full of air or water.
When a sinkhole forms it can be a shock,
since the land above it can stay intact
for quite some time.
The danger comes
when the underground caves get too big.
When there isn't enough support
for the land above the caves,
the land suddenly collapses.
Luckily, most sinkholes form slowly,
and they don't get too big.
But what happens when
they're massive and unexpected?
The U.S. Geological Survey estimates that
and Florida has the highest risk.
The world's biggest sinkhole is in
Shaanxi Province, China.
But sinkholes are found worldwide.
From Japan,
to the Bahamas
and Guatemala.
Although it's uncommon for a whole house
to be swallowed by a sinkhole,
it's definitely possible,
especially if you're in
sinkhole-prone regions.
The thought of your home
being devoured by the earth
can be unsettling.
But here are some tips
that will help you live and tell the story.
The best way to survive
being swallowed by a sinkhole,
is to prevent it from happening.
Check around your house and yard,
and look for these signs
that a sinkhole may be forming.
A circular depression,
lake, or deep puddle may appear,
or unusual cracks in the pavement,
roads, or your foundation.
If the rainwater disappears
into openings in the ground,
that's not good.
And watch out for doors and windows
that become unusually difficult to open.
If you live in an area
where sinkholes tend to form,
it's crucial to stay vigilant.
If a sinkhole appears,
and it's threatening your home,
get out right away.
Then contact emergency personnel.
But what if the hole
is less than a meter in diameter,
and it's not affecting
your home's foundation?
Keep monitoring it.
If the hole does not get bigger,
you can fill it yourself.
You couldn't see any signs
of a sinkhole forming.
But now your house is falling,
and you're inside.
It's too late to run,
so get down.
Use your arms and hands
to cover your head and neck.
If you can avoid being hurt
as your house falls,
it will increase your chance of surviving.
Your house has stopped moving,
and you survived the fall.
First, stretch your shirt
over your nose and mouth.
It will act like a mask,
and help prevent dust or dirt
from entering your airways.
Next, take a deep breath.
Controlling your breathing,
and keeping your airways clear,
are key to making it out alive.
There's a high chance you'll be trapped
under debris and some of the ground.
If it's possible, turn to your side
and stay in the recovery position.
This keeps your airways open,
so you won’t choke on any vomit or fluid.
While you're stuck under the rubble,
it helps to stay motivated to survive.
Remember all the happy moments
in your life and everything
you’re thankful for.
This will give you extra willpower,
and help you come out of this alive.
This may surprise you,
but your goal
is not to get out of the sinkhole.
Instead,
try to survive for as long as possible
so emergency help can get to you.
"I'm in here!"
Don't waste your time yelling.
It's not likely anyone can hear you.
So save oxygen and your energy.
Instead, wait until you hear
voices or movement above you.
Then, try to move some rubble
in rhythmic taps,
like knocking a stone against something,
so first responders can hear it.
Three short taps,
followed by three longer taps,
followed by three more short taps
is Morse code for SOS,
“save our souls”.
If you landed on the top of the rubble,
stay where you are,
near the middle of the hole.
Trying to climb up and out of the hole
could cause the loose soil
on the sides of the walls
to fall down on top of you.
If you have your phone with you,
call for help.
Hopefully, your neighbors have noticed
that your house is missing
and called the authorities for you.
Hang in there.
Help should be on the way.
When it comes to sinkholes,
it's better to be prepared
and get out beforehand,
instead of trying to escape
after your house collapses into the earth.
"Hey, what's that?"
So find out about the ground
your house is built on,
and stay alert for the signs
a sinkhole is opening up.
Even though you know
how to survive a sinkhole,
don't tempt fate.
The hole might get deeper than you expect.
But could you survive
if you fell into Thor's Well?
We can help you with that too.