BLACKHAWK, S.D. – Two large sinkholes that developed on E. Daisy Drive in Blackhawk Monday evening have led to more homes being evacuated.
Meade County Emergency Management says the holes reveal a possible gypsum mine roughly the size of half a football field.
Meade County departments are collectively looking into the history of the subdivision to determine if there was ever a mine disclosed to the county in the original proposal in 2002. After moving buildings since then, they have not been able to find those papers. According to the Meade County Equalization and Planning Office there are no answers as to who knew of the mine.
Meanwhile, three members of the Paha Sapa Grotto chapter of the National Speleological Society also offered their services this week as highly certified cave experts to provide an initial assessment of the situation. They entered the underground chamber after overhead concrete was dislodged and made some initial measurements of the voids. They will provide better data in the near future when they can re-enter with more team members and equipment for safety.
Their initial data shows a void under a number of lots and the street covering at least 330′ by 85′. Officials evacuated several additional houses and closed access to a larger area. Law enforcement will be patrolling the area and may issue citations for anyone crossing the police tape. Emergency Management says this area has a number of smaller holes developing. Unexpected collapses may occur in many areas within the closed area.
In their post, emergency management stated:
“It is a big hole with some rock in it. Lead has a bigger one with better views if you want to see a big hole with rocks in it. This is roughly the size of half a football field. Think of a mine field where the mines pull you down instead of blowing up. The fall may be a thrill but the sudden stop 30 feet below will not be. The residents there are dealing with plenty of problems. Please watch a beautiful sunset and do not be part of their problem.”
