About 15 minutes ago, the choppers arrived — first there was one that just hovered over the house. I puzzled about what could be happening, thinking that there was a fugitive in the neighborhood; then Sky 7 HD showed up on the other side of the house. They’re still up there, the helicopter buzz is loud and reminds me of the time that Elian Gonzalez stayed at the house on my office campus years ago, the media trying to get camera shots in any way possible.
Nothing on TV, but I finally found what it’s all about: I-880 has a sinkhole where it runs one block from my house. I was riding my scooter right by it this morning, noting the workmen but didn’t look down at the freeway to see the exciting spectacle.
It was caused by groundwater flowing underneath the roadway — it rained some yesterday — and is of interest because our neighborhood has had severe groundwater problems this winter, with flooded basements everywhere.
Let’s hope my house doesn’t suddenly get swallowed up.
Update, 5:31pm: It’s funny how as soon as the local news switched over to national news, the choppers fled the scene — literally. Quiet reigns again at sinkhole central, except for the traffic jam.
