Latest Topics ZDNet. By registering you become a member of the CBS Interactive family of sites and you have read and agree to the Terms of Use, Privacy Policy and Video Services Policy. You agree to receive updates, alerts and promotions from CBS and that CBS may share information about you with our marketing partners so that they may contact you by email or otherwise about their products or services. Difference Between Positivism And Interpretivism Pdf Free. You will also receive a complimentary subscription to the ZDNets Tech Update Today and ZDNet Announcement newsletters. You may unsubscribe from these newsletters at any time. HnZL1kmH0nw/WPtryqpVmuI/AAAAAAAAsTw/l4ZdgJ-RqxI1EQiPIUkrAUEJUNVPr3kqgCLcB/s1600/windows-hacking-tools.png' alt='Download Free Hacking Safeguard Easy Emergency' title='Download Free Hacking Safeguard Easy Emergency' />In September, Lyft has partnered with local restaurants in 12 major cities to offer you a free or discounted food for just showing your Lyft app. Seven Emergency Preparedness Tips You May Not Know. Its National Preparedness Month, which means its time to make sure youre ready for whatever life. Download the free trial version below to get started. Doubleclick the downloaded file to install the software. Latest trending topics being covered on ZDNet including Reviews, Tech Industry, Security, Hardware, Apple, and Windows. Should You Be Worried About Sinkholes Theres currently a hungry sinkhole in Florida thats consumed seven homes over the past monththe largest in the past 3. Its a troubling sight, but how much should you actually worry about them Its National Preparedness Month, which means its time to make sure youre ready for whatever life Read more Read. What Are Sinkholes Sinkholes, as explained by the USGS Water Science School, are an area of ground that has no natural external surface drainage. As rain falls, the water accumulates in the sinkhole then drains into the subsurface, eroding the limestone, carbonate rock, salt beds, and other slightly soluble bedrock forming spaces and caverns below. Eventually, theres not enough support underground for the land surface and it collapses. Sinkhole sizes vary from being a few feet wide to covering hundreds of acres, often going more than 1. Some sinkholes retain water fairly well and become naturally occurring ponds. How Often Do They OccurAnd Where We dont know how often they occur because there isnt enough data on the natural phenomenon. Many happen in agricultural areas or locations where there arent any people to keep track, and theres no national sinkhole database to check. Still, we do know where they occur most often. Sinkholes are most common in areas where the rock below the land surfaces is comprised of limestone, carbonate rock, and salt beds. Florida, Texas, Alabama, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, eastern New York, Indiana, southeastern Minnesota, and parts of South Dakota, Wyoming, New Mexico, and Oklahoma. What Are the Warning Signs of Sinkholes Sinkholes form very slowly, so they can be hard to predict, and there may be no warning signs at all. That said, keep an eye out for fresh cracks to the foundation in your home and other buildings, and watch for skewed door frames that wont let your door shut properly. Other signs include a tree in your yard suddenly starting to lean to one side and cracks appearing in the ground outside. If you see those things, avoid the area and do not approach any cracks or impressions on the ground. Contact someone who can investigate the area safely. A stockpile of non perishable foods can get you through an emergencywhether youre preparingRead more Read. Does Insurance Cover the Damages Unfortunately, naturally occurring sinkholes are considered ground movement, which puts them in the same category as earthquakes. That means sinkholes are rarely, if ever, covered by your standard homeowners insurance plan. It may be an optional add on with your provider, but if not, youll have to purchase a separate sinkhole specific insurance policy. Florida state law, however says home insurers must offer residents protection for catastrophic ground cover collapse. So, if youre a Florida resident with a homeowners insurance policy, you may already be covered. But its best to double check to be safe. And if you live in an area with former coal mines, you may be able to get mine subsidence insurance as well. Check your states department of insurance to see what kind of coverage is available to you. Disasterswhether in the form of natural disasters, tech emergencies, or a ripped seam in your only Read more Read. Should You Worry About Sinkholes Not necessarily, but it depends on where you live. Most sinkholes dont cause fatalities, but it is a possibilityespecially if the collapse occurs direction underneath you without warning. If your home is any of the areas mentioned above, make sure you at least have insurance coverage for sinkholes. And you should always be on the lookout for the warning signs, even when youre driving in those areas. Many injuries and fatalities occur when people accidentally drive into sinkholes in a road. For the most part, though, stay vigilant, make sure youre always prepared for an emergency, and dont worry too much about the Earth trying to swallow you up.