Miami Sinkholes – What You Should Know Before Moving to Miami, FL

Miami City

Miami City

Atlantic coast of South Florida in the southeastern part of the United States, Miami is a major port city that is considered the most populous city of the Miami metropolitan area. It is also part of the second most populous metropolis in the southeastern part of the country.

Miami City

Miami City

One of the country’s largest airports for international passengers is the Miami International Airport. It is a major hub for both domestic and international flights.

Miami Beach

Miami Beach

Miami, also called “The Magic City”, draws a lot of local and foreign tourists, thanks to its vibrant metro areas and diverse communities. Miami Beach is one of the most popular attractions and party places. Nightlife is a big thing in the city, and you can spend the night drinking or dancing at one of the bars on the beach.

Biscayne National Park

Biscayne National Park

If you’re not into partying, you can spend some relaxing time at Biscayne National Park or the Everglades. Also, active residents in the city enjoy playing golf or watching baseball, football, or basketball games in one of the stadiums in the metro area. Water activities such as deep-sea fishing and scuba diving as popular hobbies as well. As for the weather, Miami experiences rainstorms and hurricanes occasionally, but it’s usually warm and sunny all year round.

If you’re into the arts, the city serves as the venue of Art Basel, one of the world’s largest and most popular art fairs. There are also craft beer bars, dealers of vintage sports cars, as well as antique shops.

Many young professionals flock to Miami not only for the party life at Miami Beach but also for the career opportunities especially in the fields of trade and banking.

Miami is home to a large Hispanic community that is composed mainly of people from Cuba. It was in the 1960s when Cubans went to the US, mainly in Miami, during the Cuban revolution. When you visit Hialeah and Little Havana, you’ll notice that their strong cultural identity is prominent in these areas. Aside from Cubans, people from Central and South America call Miami home.

When it comes to transportation, Miami has a public transport system that is composed of Metrobus, Metrorail, and Metromover. From Miami International Airport, you can take the Tri-Rail train to communities including Hollywood, Deerfield Beach, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, and Boca Raton. If you’re not living in a shore-side area, commuting may be a bit difficult. You can consider ride-sharing services such as Uber and Lyft.

Lack of extensive public transportation coverage pushes many to drive their cars. This results in heavy traffic in many areas. In fact, the metro area is considered one of the worst places to drive in the US.

While the cost of living in Miami is a bit higher than the national average, many still consider it a viable place to move in. Since 2010, the urban core of the city had shown 66% growth in terms of construction of new properties, which is higher than in other major cities in the country. The downtown area is popular among young professionals, as well as Wynwood, Midtown, and the Brickell neighborhoods, while families prefer suburbs including Coral Gables, Doral, and Key Biscayne. Coconut Grove, a seaside village and the oldest neighborhood in Miami, is another popular choice among families, thanks to its parks, schools, restaurants, and low crime rates. It’s also one of the most peaceful residential areas, and ideal for walking and biking. Aventura offers houses prices that are lower than the market prices in Miami, so if you’re looking for a property that is within your budget, you may want to start in that area.

Sponser Ads

Do you want to move to Miami? One of the things that you should look into is the sinkhole situation in the area. Here are some of the things that you need to know:

Sinkholes in Florida

Florida Sinkhole Map

Historical Sinkhole Situation in Miami

Over the last several years, residents in Miami had seen sinkholes of different sizes. Here are some of the sinkhole incidents in the area:

  • August 2013 – A sinkhole formed after a main water line between 84 and 85 streets in Miami Beach broke. It also caused a water outage for 500 customers.
  • October 2015 – A sinkhole formed on a busy roadway at Southwest 27th Avenue, located between the Sixth and Seventh Streets. It looked small at first but upon inspection, it extended through three lanes.
  • October 2015 – A sinkhole opened due to a broken service line from the Four Points by Sheraton Miami Beach Hotel located at 4343 Collins Avenue. Northbound traffic on Collins Avenue was diverted at 41st Street, while the 44th Street was closed.
  • August 2016 – Because of a broken water line, two massive holes opened in the southbound lanes of Florida’s Turnpike, near Hard Rock Stadium, prompting the officials to close lanes and two exits.
  • October 2016 – A sinkhole opened on 41st Street and Royal Palm Avenue, near the Julia Tuttle Causeway. The cause might be the severe weather at Miami-Dade.
  • November 2017 – A sinkhole opened at the intersection of Flagler and 107th Avenue.

Miami is a popular tourist destination, and it’s not surprising that many want to call it their home. As with any other major decision, it pays to do your research and weigh the pros and cons. For instance, Miami is located in Florida, a place that sees more sinkholes than any other state in the country. Because of Florida’s porous ground that can result in an occasional collapse, sinkholes are likely to appear. It’s true that no one and no device can predict when and where a sinkhole will open, but knowing the sinkhole situation in the area will help you protect your family and property. For example, consider getting sinkhole insurance for security. You and your family can devise a plan on what to do in case a sinkhole appears in your backyard.

If you want to know more about the sinkholes in your area, check out sinkholemaps.com, an online resource of sinkhole information in many areas in Florida. You can search sinkhole-related incidents in your area for your peace of mind.

References:

RealEstate.Usnews.com

BusinessInsider

Sponser Ads

MiamiHerald

Local10

Wsvn.com

HuffingtonPost.com

NbcMiami.com