Houston Sinkholes: A Brief History

Houston is no stranger to harsh weather. Over the years, the city has been hit by everything from tropical storms to hurricanes to tornadoes.

But with a recent incident involving a sinkhole that nearly swallowed a local church, the question arises: How common are sinkholes in Houston?

Houston has actually experienced a number of notable sinkholes over the years, many of which have been covered by KPRC 2.

In July 2021, a local family complained of a sinkhole that was “about half the size of a sedan” and kept reappearing despite the city’s multiple efforts to fix it.

Last July, two major sinkholes opened up, one in Memorial Village and one in northeast Houston. Both sinkholes caused significant problems for local residents.

One of the sinkholes blocked traffic for a time, while the other grew larger over time after multiple calls to the city to have it repaired, much like the sinkhole in July 2021.

Sinkholes can be dangerous to property, cars and even animals, as we saw in May of this year when a dog and cat became trapped in a sinkhole that opened up in The Woodlands.

In some cases, sinkholes can even damage entire neighborhoods. Brownwood, a Baytown neighborhood once considered “one of Houston’s most desirable neighborhoods,” has been hit by sinkholes.

Brownwood’s demise wasn’t just due to sinkholes, however. According to a Houston History article, the development began to literally sink into the ground after Hurricane Carla hit the area in 1961.

In 1983, the situation worsened when Hurricane Alicia forced residents to evacuate the city. Eventually, the entire city succumbed to sinkholes, becoming a distant memory as it sank into the ground it was built on.

Sinkholes can be a nuisance, to say the least. But what causes them? And is Houston more prone to sinkholes than other areas?

Experts say sinkholes are common in areas where there are highly soluble rocks such as limestone. These rocks can be easily dissolved by groundwater, causing the earth to slowly collapse.

These types of soluble rocks are commonly found in areas called “karsts,” which are cave systems. While studies have not found a particularly high number of these areas in Houston, there are many other potential explanations for why so many sinkholes have appeared recently.

For example, some scientists have suggested that the extraction of large quantities of oil and gas could contribute to the formation of sinkholes. One study showed that this activity caused the ground surface to rise and fall during the process of injecting rainwater and extracting crude oil.

However, in Houston’s case, the answer might be simpler: nearly all of the sinkholes discussed above were caused by weather-related erosion, aging urban infrastructure, or a combination of the two.

As for what Houston residents can do about sinkholes, experts say it’s important to pay attention to any strange elevation changes on your property, as it could be the start of a bigger problem.

If you suspect a sinkhole is forming near your home, you should immediately call 3-1-1 or submit a report at Houstontx.gov/311.