Backyards sinking in Charlotte County

CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. – Backyards are sinking in Charlotte County and neighbors say they’re terrified their home will be swallowed up by the ground.

Homeowners tell WINK News they’ve been trying to get help for weeks.

On Thursday, a state and local leader saw the problems along Elkcam Boulevard firsthand.

People who live along the Sunrise Waterway say the crater size indents in the ground recently started appearing.

The ground level has shifted so much, it has cracked the foundation and patios of houses.

Neighbors believe the sinking ground is due to the canal dredging last year. They also say the water in the canal helped hold the home foundation in place. The water level in the canal has now dropped so significantly, the foundation underneath the home is flowing into it.

Charlotte County commissioner Bill Truex says they will send out an expert to determine what needs to be done.