Land O’ Lakes Sinkhole: How To Help Victims

LAND O’ LAKES, FL — Pasco County and United Way are teaming up to make it easier for people to help the families who lost their homes when a sinkhole opened up in Land O’ Lakes on Friday. The kickoff of a special local fund meant to directly benefit the families was announced on Monday.

United Way of Pasco County will oversee the local effort with “100 percent of donated funds” going directly to help victims in their recovery efforts, a July 17 email from Pasco County said. United Way will not take any administrative fees from proceeds collected to help the families, the county said. As of Monday, county officials said two homes had been destroyed by the sinkhole and five others have been tagged as unsafe for entry and were evacuated. That brings the tally of impacted families up to seven.

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The sinkhole in question opened up behind a home at 21825 Ocean Pines Drive shortly before 7:21 a.m. July 14. Pasco County Fire Rescue crews arrived on the scene at 7:36 a.m. and reported a depression about the size of a “small pool.” The hole, however, continued to expand, eventually demolishing the homes at 21825 and 21835 Ocean Pines Drive. A boat on the property at 21825 Ocean Pines Drive was also destroyed when the sinkhole first opened, county spokesman Doug Tobin said. The hole is estimated to be about 225 feet in diameter and about 50 feet deep.

For the seven families affected by the sinkhole, the county said “repair and recovery expenses will push these residents beyond their financial capacity.” The fundraiser is intended to make it easier for residents to rebuild their lives.

In addition to collecting donations from the public, United Way also plans to seek donations to match those made by community members.

“Our ability to work together alongside businesses, government, donors and community leaders to answer this crisis demonstrates how we ‘Live United’ in Pasco County," Alice Delgardo, president and CEO of United Way of Pasco County said in a Monday statement.

People who would like to donate to the relief effort may do so by:

• Texting the word “Sinkhole” to 41444
• Giving online at UnitedWayPasco.org
• Mailing donations to United Way of Pasco County, 17230 Camelot Court, Land O’ Lakes, FL 34638

Families affected by the sinkhole may contact the Red Cross, Salvation Army and United Way of Pasco for assistance. The county’s human services department may also be able to assist. Its number is 727-847-2411.

Over the weekend, the county said remediation of the land impacted by the sinkhole could take weeks or even months.

Photo courtesy of the Pasco County Sheriff's Office