Readers React to Seffner Sinkhole Tragedy

Readers held out hope, sent messages of condolences and expressed their shock, dismay and fears at the Seffner sinkhole tragedy, which claimed the life of Jeffrey Bush, 36, dislodged three families from their homes and led to the Sunday, March 3 demolition of the Wicker family home at 240 Faithway Drive.

Families on either side of the Wicker home, which Leland Norman Wicker and his wife, Mary Leona, bought in 1974, have been evacuated from their homes as well.

"My heart goes out to this family and especially to the young man who tried so valiantly to save his brother, may God offer him peace in knowing that he did all that he could to try and save his brother," wrote Jacque Hereth.

Jeremy Bush, 34, had rushed into the guest bedroom at 240 Faithway Drive, where his brother cried out shortly after 11 p.m. Feb. 28, "Jeremy, help me! Jeremy, help me!," according to a report from Amber Wicker, whose sister, Rachel, is married to the younger Bush.

Gene Hummel, on the morning of Saturday, March 2, wondered why "more emphasis has been placed on 'examining the area for more sinkholes' than [on] trying to get this man out."

Donna Carroll Erlandson attempted to answer Hummel's concerns, noting that "once a sinkhole develops and 'swallows' up" the ground above, "those contents and humans are lost forever." Sand "is heavier than dirt," she added, and "therefore the deeper this man (God rest his soul) went the more there was no retrieving him alive."

"If it makes anyone feel better, suffocating is the best way to pass away, which was explained to me by a neurosurgeon," Eriandson continued. "The brain produces a chemical in the brain which then produces euphoria by lack of oxygen, which makes it easier for the person to 'let go.' I know this because my little brother was strangled by his roommate and hence became brain dead. I feel very bad for the rest of his family. I pray God comforts them through this difficult time."

As for retrieving the body, that was not likely, as Hillsborough County Administrator Mike Merrill solemnly told the family, and then announced to the media in the late afternoon of Saturday, March 2, when he spoke about the impending demolition that was to begin — and, indeed, did — on Sunday morning, March 3.

The news throughout the ordeal had received national attention.

"I live in Illinois, so I don't think we have had sinkholes," wrote Suzie Sorenson. I just hope [they] find the poor man and hope they can figure out how to stop this from happening . . ."

Lynne Webb contended that "sinkholes are caused by limestone caves underground."

"As ground water depletes, the earths crust gives way to disaster," she added. "I know. I was standing right next to one as it opened up. It could have easlily swallowed a small home or mobile home. Spooky sucking sound as it happened. The ground shook and then all was quiet."

Erlandson said she, too, had experiences with sinkholes, at her parents' home.

"If you look inside, around your home at the floor boards, if you see a space between your floor and the floor boards, that is one way to discover that your home may be sitting on a sinkhole," she wrote. "One other way is to look outside your home all around and if you see huge cracks along the side of your house, that is also a sign of sinkhole. If you look at your ceiling and you see cracks there it may be another sign of sinkhole activity. These are just some of the ways you can discover if your home is sitting on a sinkhole."

Worries ran deep not only among neighbors, but also among those who live in adjacent and neighboring communities. Also, among those readers who said they were thinking about moving to Florida.

"This is the reason I will never move to Florida," said Carol Blair. "Sinkholes have been occurring there for centuries. Not a good place to be."

Jason B offered a bit of perspective: "Sinkholes happen in many places, even in VA [Virginia]," he wrote. "My leg fell through a sinkhole while walking my dog, I was lucky to have my husband close by or I would have been stuck there for [a]while. This whole was deep, and as soon as I stepped on the area, 'whoosh,' down went my leg all the way up to my hip. This is a very scary thing to have happen to you. I can't imagine the agony/terror this poor man experienced."

Jen Crowder offered a chilling tale.

"I own a remodeling company and I at one point was incorporated in FL[orida]," she wrote. "It is everyday practice for 'contractors' to not follow simple safety and building codes. I watched (and reported) as a crew built a form for a slab foundation the[n] fill it with concrete, no rebar! And the water content of the concrete was way too high for the purpose. Then, only 24 hours later (obviously not cured properly), another crew was there throwing up the framing! I reported it to county inspectors and never saw any follow up. My company could not compete in Florida because we refused to stoop to their practices."

To the grief-stricken, the most that could be offered was this, as put forth by Peggy Townes:

"You have my deepest sympathy," she wrote. "I am praying for the family."

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SUBSEQUENT AND ONGOING BRANDON PATCH SEFFNER SINKHOLE COVERAGE (Through March 4):

• Seffner Sinkhole Homeowner: 'God Has a Plan'

• Seffner Sinkhole Victim Officially 'Presumed' Deceased

• Family Treasures Salvaged from Seffner Sinkhole Demolition
  

• Demolition Under Way at Seffner Sinkhole Site

• More Photos From the Seffner Sinkhole Site

• Seffner Sinkhole Operation Readies for Impending Demolition

• 3rd Home 'Compromised' at Seffner Sinkhole Site; Relief Fund Established

• Video: Deputy Douglas Duvall Recounts Seffner Sinkhole Heroics

• Situation 'Extremely Unsafe' at Seffner Sinkhole Site

• Family Member Recalls Horror of Seffner Sinkhole Tragedy

• Photos From the Scene of Sinkhole in Seffner

• Video: Hillsborough Fire Chief Discusses Seffner Sinkhole

• Hillsborough County Among Top 10 Sinkhole-Prone Florida Counties

• Update: Sinkhole Swallows Seffner Man Sleeping in Bed

• Video of Deputy Who Worked To Save Men From Sinkhole 
  

• Video: Man Could Hear His Brother Screaming

• Video: Fire Chief Answers Questions             

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