The U.S. government’s failed attempts to come together and make a decision on budget cuts seems to be at the top of the news. After meeting with the House Republicans several times Obama is finding it hard to believe they will make a final decision because of their different views. Obama hopes to raise taxes for the wealthy and although the republicans have agreed to his plan they are asking that cuts be taken from some government services like health care. These differing opinions are causing the budget proposals to fall through the cracks and the future economy of America to become cloudier.
In other recent news there were cases of people literally falling through the cracks of the earth. Two cases arose of sinkholes suddenly opening and swallowing up victims.
The first sinkhole occurred on Thursday, February 28 in Seffner, Fla. inside a family’s home. Resident Jeff Bush was in his bed when a sink suddenly opened up beneath him and swallowed him up with much of the rest of the contents in his room. His brother, Jeremy Bush, tried to help rescue him when he heard him call his name but when the police arrived they took everyone out of the home. The emergency crew including police, firefighters and engineers said that it was not safe for anyone to be in the home because it could be swallowed up at anytime. The sinkhole was recorded to be around 20 feet to 30 feet across and 30 feet deep. The victim was never recovered.
The second sinkhole occurred on Friday, March 8 at a golf course in St. Louis, Mo. As Mark Mihal and his friends were playing golf a sinkhole suddenly opened up and sucked Mark in. Mark was approximately 18 feet underground when his friends attempted to rescue him. Mark’s friend, Mike Peters, was sent down the sinkhole with a rope tied to his waist and he hoisted Mark and himself back up a ladder. Although, Mark suffered a few injuries, he was safe and made it through the dreadful experience that could have ended his life.
While, both of these experiences ended with different results I am sure they have equally raised questions for many people. Even though sinkholes are more common than we may be aware of, it is very frightening to think that a sinkhole could hit at any moment and suck you right in. However, the only way to take precautions for unexpected natural disasters is to shelter yourself or take other extreme measures of caution and even these options are not guaranteed to save you. These stories simply remind us to live life to fullest because we never know what can happen.
The sinkhole situation is so shocking! That is strange how two of them were reported in less than a month. That is one of my biggest fears is being swallowed up into the earth. Now it is more likely for this fear to come true! Great article!