WELL, IT’S NOT SPEWING ROCK AND LAVA, BUT ONE NATURAL DISASTER IN CALIFORNIA HAS SOME SERIOUS STAYING POWER.
THE CITY OF MORAGA HAS BEEN COPING WITH A GIANT SINKHOLE, FOR A FULL YEAR.
A SINKHOLE IS A HOLE THAT FORMS IN THE GROUND WHEN THE DIRT AND ROCKS WASH AWAY AND THERE IS NOTHING LEFT BENEATH THE GROUND TO SUPPORT IT.
SINKHOLES MIGHT LOOK LIKE GIANT MONSTER MOUTHS THAT OPEN UP AND SWALLOWED EVERYTHING ABOVE THEM, BUT THEY’RE USUALLY JUST CAUSED BY WATER BELOW GROUND -- SHIFTING LOOSE ROCK.
RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES ARE TAKING THIS UNWELCOME GUEST IN STRIDE – EVEN THROWING A TONGUE-IN-CHEEK BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION FOR THE SINKHOLE. DESPITE THEIR HEALTHY SENSE OF HUMOR, THEY HOPE TO AVOID CELEBRATING ANOTHER BIRTHDAY IN THE FUTURE!
EMILY TURNER REPORTS.
NATS singing happy birthday.
ITS A SATIRICAL CELEBRATION. ONE YEAR- TO THE DAY- SINCE THIS MORAGA SINKHOLE OPENED UP.
yazmin Miknas /student: "Wow." Reporter: "Best sink hole cake ever?" Yazmin Miknas /student: "Mmm hmmm/" Reporter: "Worth another year?" Yazmin Miknas /student:
"NOOOO!" SO WHILE THIS PARTY IS COMPLETE WITH (APPARENTLY) GOOD CAKE AND GOOD HUMOR, THE OVER ALL SENTIMENT IS MUCH LESS FESTIVE.
Doug Pope: "What wed really like to see is some action on that hole over there so the surrounding businesses don't have to continue dealing with financial losses for another year."
THE SINKHOLE HAS A PORTION OF RHEEM BLVD SHUT DOWN... AND DOUG SAYS HE'S LOST ABOUT 20 PERCENT OF HIS BUSINESS AS RESULT. BUT WHEN IT COMES TO MONEY, THE CITY OF MORAGA SAYS IT'S SHORT TOO. SO IT'S LEFT TO JUMP THROUGH FEDERAL HOOPS FOR THE 3.3 MILLION NEEDED FOR REPAIRS. BUT THOSE THROWING THE PARTY SAY THEIR PATIENCE- AND THEIR SENSE OF HUMOR IS WEARING THIN.
Ravi Singh / Rheen Valley Automotive: "What I'm trying to find out is when it's going to happen - like to buy another cake for it or is it going to be over in a year."
PUBLIC WORKS SAYS THE CITY HAS ALMOST FINISHED WITH THE PAPERWORK. THEN CAL TRANS REVIEWS IT AND DOLES OUT THE FEDERAL FUNDS. FROM THAT DATE- WHENEVER IT MAY BE- THE CITY SAYS IT'LL TAKE THREE MONTHS TO FIX.
Edric Kwan / Moaraga, Director Of Public Works: "We are following the process and being very patient, but our patience is wearing thin. so we are hoping that when we get the applications completed, submitted, and submitted quickly, we'll be able to get work started right away."
Doug Pope: "The sooner they get started the sooner it's going to get done and the summer is coming really fast."
Instructional Links
Website: Town of Moraga, California
Video: PBS LearningMedia, DragonFlyTV, Sinkholes | For episode text, http://pbskids.org/dragonflytv/show/sinkholes.html.