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A recent string of sinkholes in Central Florida has thousands of Floridians worried about their homes. Many Floridians dropped their sinkhole coverage in 2008 when state legislation removed mandatory coverage for all. As Whitney Ray tells us, people without extra coverage are still protected if their home falls into the ground.

About a dozen sinkholes have formed in Central Florida. The phenomena are happening just two years after the state eliminated a mandate for sinkhole coverage, which insurers says is leaving many out of luck.

“Now you are seeing that exposure be realized by some of those folks who opted out of that coverage and really they indeed need it in those more hazardous areas,” said Jeff Grady with the Florida Association of Independent Agents

Homeowners with extra coverage can make claims on cracks in their driveways and foundation problems caused by the sinking ground.

But homeowners without sinkhole coverage have no need to panic because if there house does fall into the ground they can still file a claim. State Senator Mike Fasano led the charge to eliminate the mandate because many people couldn’t pay for it.

“Those who couldn’t afford that 300 percent increase, in fact dropped their coverage completely of homeowners insurance because they couldn’t afford it now they are able to get some sort of insurance. They are going to have to take a little more risk, but at least they have something than nothing like they had before,” said Fasano.

But for people who are now interested in more comprehensive coverage buying a sinkhole policy could become more expensive.