am I losing my hill?

digApony · #21 05/06/10, 04:08 PM

Okay... I'm good and skeered now. Also, my water seems to have a lot of air in the pipes.

Limestone cave... yep...

Thanks everyone... I'll get movin!

silvermoxy · #22 05/06/10, 04:43 PM

Wow, nothing helpful to add information-wise, but I'll be hoping for good and safe outcome for you and your home! (And also, that well drilled geyser things sounded lke it would have been pretty cool to see, so I hope it doesn't have anything to do with this...)

wyld thang · #23 05/06/10, 04:50 PM

diggy--when you get a chance tell us you are on safe ground?

Patt · #24 05/06/10, 05:03 PM

I hope you can get someone to inspect it soon. I would definitely get all of my important stuff out of the house and somewhere safe for the time being.

Hopefully you just have a pocket under your hill that settled and everything will be fine once the water recedes. I wouldn't hang around though until somebody gives you an all clear.

farmergirl · #25 05/06/10, 05:06 PM

How scary! I am glad to read that you are seeking other shelter. Earth movement is serious and dangerous business.
When I lived in Oregon, there was a sink hole that appeared out of nowhere in the middle of Interstate 5. The whole road sunk by several tens of feet and caused loss of life when someone drove into it in the middle of the night. When I saw photos of the damage I was amazed and scared. I had travelled that very route so many times, and this earth movement came without warning in an area that had been quite stable for years and years before.

digApony · #26 05/06/10, 05:13 PM

Well when the possbility of sitting on a limestone cave was suggested I thought of the well. People that had lived in the area all of their lives had never seen anything like it. We had a huge pile of pure white lime when we finished. It had to be scooped up with a bcat and hauled off in a truck.

We drilled not long after we bought the land because it was rumored among the locals that there was a dry vein in that area.

And we wanted to be sure before we went any further.

I am at work and won't be home till late. My daughter in law and grandson are there and I called and warned her, so she's going to my x's house until I can get this worked out.

I am also taking the 4 wheeler down there and get a picture to post and for reference. I don't think you will be able to glean anything from it because the change is so subtle. I've been ther 18 year and it creeped up on me.

Now that I think back I did notice a change in the "layout", but I thought it was from the building of ponds and their dams by my neighbors both east and north of me. Their water all drained into mine. And that may be, but it is really the cliff height, soupy mud and ground movement that alarmed me.

I've been making calls when I get a chance, but busy signals everywhere. And the Hippies are in Nashville too. Ugh.

Thanks so much.

DigApony.

Rockytopsis · #27 05/06/10, 05:28 PM

I hope all goes well for you and will be watching for updates.
Nancy

cc-rider · #28 05/06/10, 05:31 PM

Please let us know what happens...and that you are safe. I think I'd be finding someplace to stay...even if it was with the DIL, g-kids and Ex!!

digApony · #29 05/06/10, 05:45 PM

I want to let you know that the water had gone down from the flood stage on Sunday to a trickle on Monday. So there is no water to speak of in the hollow. The movement happened on Sunday when the water was very high.

Thanks everyone. I'm working on it and will be sure to let you know. PS. Ex won't mind haha

TheMartianChick · #30 05/06/10, 06:06 PM

Glad to hear that you will be someplace safe. Please be careful!!

Pony · #31 05/06/10, 06:07 PM

Can you please not go alone, or at the very least, carry a 2-way radio or cell phone with you (whichever works best in your area)?

I'm concerned for your safety.

Please be careful.

digApony · #32 05/06/10, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pony

Can you please not go alone, or at the very least, carry a 2-way radio or cell phone with you (whichever works best in your area)?

I'm concerned for your safety.

Please be careful.

I will. I always carry a cell. A friend sugessted that I consult the Geologicl dept at Vanderbilt University.

Maybe I can get the attention of a atudent working on their dissertation. And I learned that Middle TN is nothing but limestone caves and underground springs. I searched for cave ins or sinkholes in the area, but really didn't find anything.

I'm staying on it until I get an answer and ya know that I look back that part of the hill appears to be sinking or seteling. I've been walking my land for 18 years now. All I have is my memory though. No pictures. It never crossed my mind

.

And even if nothing ever comes of it, I'm going to brace that part of the hill bottom and divert the water run away from the hill bottom... And plug up the pressure relief "valve" for the underground spring maybe... Oh what to do?

I need an expert most definitely.

Thanks much

digApony

**Terri** · #33 05/06/10, 06:57 PM

DigApony, I am from California.

I grew up on the flat ground so I do not know much about mudslides, but, the weather in Tennessee is certainly correct to cause one.

Please be carefull: mudslides are serious.

Darren · #34 05/06/10, 07:01 PM

I wish I could be more definitive. But talking to your insurance agent may not be the best route to take. If in fact you have a flood related water problem, you'll be building a case for the insurance company to deny a claim. You may be better off setting this out and buying a preferred rate flood insurance policy in a few months. If you're on a hill above the hundred year flood plain you can get flood insurance for a bit more than $100 per year.

Calling in any kind of government agency puts you at risk. The last thing you need is some hotshot telling you that you need to evacuate just in case just to CYA themselves.

Based on the water in your well being pressurized, my guess is that any subterranean void is filled with water. That might prevent a sinkhole if a void exists. Sorry not to be more help.

luvrulz · #35 05/06/10, 07:21 PM

What you might be able to do is check with the Farm Services Agency people. There's a fella here in S Central Ky (same storm came through here!) and he's very familiar with the lay of the land and the watershed and all that stuff.

How big is the hill - how much land are we talking? Have you ever had a soil test done and what did the results show?

On your survey or plat map, doesn't it say something about the lattitude/longitude? Can you have that retaken to see if the house has settled into the hill or if the height of the hill has changed? What would be able to tell you if it has...?

jrpoland · #36 05/06/10, 07:33 PM

I didn't have time to read all the posts, so someone may have already recommended this, but you might try calling a civil engineering consulting firm. Most of the consultants I know (I work for a consulting firm) are good folks and will help someone out pro bono.

I know of several firms in Nashville that might be able to help you. I don't know exactly where you are, but it might not be too much of a trek.

Best of luck.

digApony · #37 05/06/10, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darren

I wish I could be more definitive. But talking to your insurance agent may not be the best route to take. If in fact you have a flood related water problem, you'll be building a case for the insurance company to deny a claim. You may be better off setting this out and buying a preferred rate flood insurance policy in a few months. If you're on a hill above the hundred year flood plain you can get flood insurance for a bit more than $100 per year.

Calling in any kind of government agency puts you at risk. The last thing you need is some hotshot telling you that you need to evacuate just in case just to CYA themselves.

Based on the water in your well being pressurized, my guess is that any subterranean void is filled with water. That might prevent a sinkhole if a void exists. Sorry not to be more help.

No, you are a great help. I called my agent already, and asked only if he knew anyone I could contact for help. So it's too late for that. There is so much flood damage in my area and they are in places where no one had flood insurance. This flood is historical. So the insurance companies are already off of the hook. It's on the taxpayer now. My small and sparsely populated county did not qualify to be declared a disaster area eventhough we did have significant damage. But it's land and not structure.

So I'm on my own, and maybe that's a good thing. I can't even get a hold of the government anyway. And I agree with you. No help there.

Both of my sisters are geology majors and one worked for an oil company. So I've got calls into them, however, she worked in Michigan and may have an understanding, but most likely couldn't tell me exactly.

I'm going to try Vanderbilt or UT and see if I can peak the interest of one of the professors or students.

Other than that, I going to have to rely on my own instincts and observations. I'm going to plan a breakwall that sits ahead of the hill bottom to divert the water and hopefully far enough away not to plug any "pressure relief valves" for the underground spring at the bottom of the hill: just a secure pile of rocks.

I've learned over the years, that I am the only one to take care of me, and I don't think that has been a bad thing.

I'll stay on it and do the best I can. And I do appreciate everyone's advice and I am listening to all of you and taking your words seriously. I'm glad that you are taking me seriously.

That is why I posted. Thanks.

I'll let you know.

digApony

Harry Chickpea · #38 05/06/10, 07:39 PM

Scouring is when water washes away sand and the resultant mix of water and sand causes further underground erosion of weak areas.

Land shifts - plat surveys don't usually tell elevations, however... Chances are good that you can find if the land has subsided if you are willing to do the research and spend the money. The U.S. geodesic survey used airplanes and multiple aerial photos to create an enhanced 3-D image that allowed them to tell the change in conture of the land. New photos overlaid would show any changes.

If you have a good GPS, most of those give elevation info. You could record the height at various spots and come back in a week or two to check for changes.

Other agencies likely have photos and other information. The soil survey comes to mind, and TN must have other agencies that have recorded the info.

digApony · #39 05/06/10, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrpoland

I didn't have time to read all the posts, so someone may have already recommended this, but you might try calling a civil engineering consulting firm. Most of the consultants I know (I work for a consulting firm) are good folks and will help someone out pro bono.

I know of several firms in Nashville that might be able to help you. I don't know exactly where you are, but it might not be too much of a trek.

Best of luck.

That sounds good. Can you send me a pm? However, they may be very busy, but if I could get one to come out that would be great. The Cumberland is still at flood stage, no water, etc. so Nashville is a mess right now.

digApony · #40 05/06/10, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harry Chickpea

Scouring is when water washes away sand and the resultant mix of water and sand causes further underground erosion of weak areas.

Land shifts - plat surveys don't usually tell elevations, however... Chances are good that you can find if the land has subsided if you are willing to do the research and spend the money. The U.S. geodesic survey used airplanes and multiple aerial photos to create an enhanced 3-D image that allowed them to tell the change in conture of the land. New photos overlaid would show any changes.

If you have a good GPS, most of those give elevation info. You could record the height at various spots and come back in a week or two to check for changes.

Other agencies likely have photos and other information. The soil survey comes to mind, and TN must have other agencies that have recorded the info.

Thanks. That makes sense. I'm going to try some measuring and I also have my survey line well marked. And in that area I am thinking I could measure from the hill bottom across to some point and keep checking. Looking back, in my mind it appears that the hill bottom is spreading out toward the holler... I could also measure the slope from lets say 50 ft up and across and keep checking that. That is practical. Don't have a gps, but I can always get one. Don't have a lot of money either...

digApony