BLACKHAWK, S.D. – Authorities in Meade County continue working with residents who have been forced out of their homes due to sinkholes that have developed in a Blackhawk neighborhood.
Those sinkholes are believed to be caused by an old underground gypsum mine.
Expert cavers have gone in to look at the stability of the old mine, and they say its very concerning. This week, Meade County Emergency Management reported cracks in homes and more holes and depressions in neighborhood yards.
How it came to be that a subdivision could be built on top of an old mine is under question.
The subdivision was approved by Meade county in 2002. Meade County Emergency Management and Equalization and Planning are looking through documents in order to answer the questions needed to help the 12 families who are affected.
The county is looking into having FEMA pay the homeowners to buy them out, and then have the homes demolished and turn the area into ‘green space.’ But, the program is competitive, requires $1.2 million in infrastructure damage and will only pay 75% of the home values pre-sinkhole. The other 25% would have to come from somewhere else.
In the meantime, officials are helping the families with needs like temporary lodging and mental health.
The Paha Sapa Grotto group, the expert cavers who have been helping out Meade County authorities, is planning an online presentation Thursday night to discuss the Blackhawk sinkholes and their experiences inside the old mine so far.
If you would like to tap in to the meeting, follow this link:
https://www.pahasapagrotto.org/meetings.html
