Prologue

WFLA TV Tampa Channel 3 Evening News Bulletin

Sophia Ivanova reporting                                                                                                        

Terror from below

The central Florida city of Lake Wales experienced tragedy this morning when a sinkhole consumed a resident's home. In a scene one would expect to encounter along California's infamous San Andreas fault, a chasm opened in the ground underneath the home of Alecyn Johnsenn at Ridge Manor Drive, near Lake Belle, south of the city. At about 2 a.m., residents were woken by a loud noise described by neighbor Allen Livingston as "a roar, as though someone was driving a bulldozer through the house." When he looked out the window, all he could see was a massive cloud of dust completely covering Ms Johnsenn's home.

When the dust cleared, it revealed a sinkhole estimated to be twenty feet in diameter and at least twenty feet deep. The sinkhole had completely consumed Ms. Johnsenn's house. I spoke to Mr. Livingston, Ms. Johnsenn's next-door neighbor.

"At first, I thought it was another hurricane. We had four hit us in the space of three months back in '04. There was this loud roaring noise like collapsing masonry. I looked out of my bedroom window, and all I could see was billowing dust. My backyard security lights were on, and so were the lights in Bob and Ellen Jones' house on the other side. My god, the whole thing was lit up, and it was like the apocalypse or something."

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Another neighbor, Ellen Jones, said, "I know she was home because she finished her shift at the hospital at about the same time I got home from the UPS Center. We often get home at the same time. I saw her car in the driveway when I got home just after midnight. I cannot believe that this has happened. We had invited her to a barbecue for our daughter's sweet sixteen this weekend. My god, I cannot believe it."

Emergency services were called and immediately evacuated the street, believing an explosion may have occurred. Only when fire crews went onto the property did they realize there was no evidence of an explosion; instead, a gigantic sinkhole had opened underneath the house.

"Upon receiving reports of a loud noise and a cloud of dust, we believed an explosion was responsible, possibly a gas main or even a bomb. Police evacuated the street, and National Guard bomb disposal experts were called in. They found no evidence of an explosion. It was determined that the ground had caved in under the house. There was no sign of the house's sole occupant, Ms. Alecyn Johnsenn. However, we continue to use every means to determine the excavation's extent and find her. At this point, we believe a sinkhole to be responsible, and I have asked a representative of the USGS to come in and advise." Lake Wales City Fire Chief Doug Ross

Evacuated residents have been taken to Lake Wales Junior High School until it is established whether it is safe to return to their homes. In the meantime, the local community has rallied around those affected. Father Ray Addison of the Holy Spirit Catholic Church is organizing donations of blankets and food.

"All of our prayers are with Alecyn tonight. She is a dedicated nurse known and much loved by many in the local community. She is a member of my flock and a good friend. She is also a member of our community choir and an accomplished flutist whose music has brought pleasure to many. We pray that Our Lord will deliver her from this terrible disaster."

"Over a hundred people are currently unable to return to their homes, though, at this time, only Ms. Johnsenn is missing. We will bring you more on this story as it develops."