Stuart and Tonya Junker found themselves in a distressing situation as sinkholes threatened their neighborhood near South Dakota’s Black Hills. Their home, located in the Hideaway Hills subdivision, faced the risk of collapsing due to the sinkholes that had emerged in the area. Along with about 150 other residents, the Junkers filed a lawsuit against the state seeking $45 million to compensate for their homes’ value and legal expenses.
Sinkholes are not uncommon, typically caused by collapsed caves, old mines, or dissolving material. However, the situation in Hideaway Hills is deemed exceptional by Paul Santi, a professor of geological engineering at the Colorado School of Mines, due to the significant threat posed to numerous homes in the area.
The Hideaway Hills subdivision was constructed between 2002 and 2004 above an old mine where gypsum was previously extracted for a state-owned cement plant. Residents, represented by attorney Kathy Barrow, accused the state of selling the land while withholding information about the underground mine’s existence, leading to the destabilization of the area.
Following the appearance of sinkholes, including a large one in 2020, testing revealed improperly sealed mines beneath the subdivision, causing further collapses and sinkings. The unstable ground has impacted 158 homes, infrastructure, and roads, generating fear and uncertainty among residents who feel trapped in their dangerous properties.
While the state expressed sympathy for affected property owners, it shifted blame to developers, realtors, and homebuilders for building over the abandoned mine without disclosing the risks to buyers. The state denied liability for damages, citing historical mining activities and subsequent property transactions that, according to them, absolve officials from responsibility.
For the Junkers, the lawsuit represents their only chance to seek reparation and potentially escape the dire situation. They had invested years in their home, planning for a peaceful retirement until the sinkhole crisis disrupted their lives, forcing Stuart to postpone retirement and seek additional employment to prepare for a possible evacuation.
In the midst of uncertainty and fear, residents like the Junkers continue to grapple with the aftermath of the sinkhole phenomenon in Hideaway Hills, awaiting legal resolution and a sense of security that may be elusive as the battle against nature and bureaucratic responsibilities persists.
