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Full-Text Articles in Geomorphology
The Cost Of Karst Subsidence And Sinkhole Collapse In The United States Compared With Other Natural Hazards, David J. Weary
The Cost Of Karst Subsidence And Sinkhole Collapse In The United States Compared With Other Natural Hazards, David J. Weary
Sinkhole Conference 2015
Rocks with potential for karst formation are found in all 50 states. Damage due to karst subsidence and sinkhole collapse is a natural hazard of national scope. Repair of damage to buildings, highways, and other infrastructure represents a significant national cost. Sparse and incomplete data show that the average cost of karst-related damages in the United States over the last 15 years is estimated to be at least $300,000,000 per year and the actual total is probably much higher. This estimate is lower than the estimated annual costs for other natural hazards; flooding, hurricanes and cyclonic storms, tornadoes, landslides, earthquakes, …