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Bayou Corne Sinkhole { 84 images } Created 20 Dec 2014

Here are links to my reports on the Bayou Corne Sinkhole. An industrial disaster that caused a mandatory evacuation and ultimately the near death of a community.

Growing Louisiana Sinkhole Swallowing Trees, Blamed On Industrial Activity http://www.desmogblog.com/2013/08/22/growing-louisiana-sinkhole-swallowing-trees-industry-activity

Bayou Corne Residents Still Evacuated Nearly Two Years After Salt Mine Collapse Caused Sinkhole http://www.desmogblog.com/2014/05/08/bayou-corne-residents-still-evacuated-nearly-two-years-after-salt-mine-collapse-caused-sinkhole

Ghost Town Left in the Wake of the Bayou Corne Sinkhole in Louisiana http://www.desmogblog.com/2015/03/06/ghost-town-left-wake-bayou-corne-sinkhole
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  • John Achee in front of his fishing camp; the Bayou Corne sinkhole disaster has turned him into an activist using Facebook to share information with his neighbors.  When the Bayou Corne sinkhole opened up on August 3, 2012 a mandatory evacuation was called and many of the towns residents left. Texas Brine drilled too close to the edge of a salt mine causing it to collapse and cause an industrial disaster.
    Bayou Corne SInkhole 56.jpg
  • Henry and Carolyn Welsh in front of their home  near the Bayou Corn sinkhole have vacated their premises since Aug. 4th when the state declared a mandatory evacuation after the sinkhole opened up, only returning to pick up a check from Texas Brine to cover their relocation expenses. Carolyn is recovering from breast cancer and doesn't want to risk being around any extra potential carcinogens that may be in the air and water due to the sinkhole. The couple chose Bayou Corne  as their place to retire; now they want Texas Brine to buy them out so they can move elsewhere and get on with their lives.
    Bayou Corne SInkhole 58.jpg
  • Jamie Weber with two-year-old daughter. Since she evacuated Bayou Corne, her 2 year old daughter, Ariana cries to go home to play in her room. "It's all she's known since birth. She's scared to sleep in her room in the rental where we stay in.  When the Bayou Corne sinkhole opened up on August 3, 2012 a mandatory evacuation was called and many of the towns residents left. Texas Brine drilled too close to the edge of a salt mine causing it to collapse and cause an industrial disaster.
    Bayou Corne SInkhole 59.jpg
  • Ariana Weber and her mother Jamie Weber  evacuated Bayou Corne. She stands near her house on a return visit.  Ariana cries to go home to play in her room. "It's all she's known since birth. She's scared to sleep in her room in the rental where we stay in, her mother says..  When the Bayou Corne sinkhole opened up on August 3, 2012 a mandatory evacuation was called and many of the towns residents left. Texas Brine drilled too close to the edge of a salt mine causing it to collapse and cause an industrial disaster.
    Bayou Corne SInkhole 60.jpg
  • Bayou Corne- where the earth bubbles and hisses since the sinkhole appeared on Aug. 4th 2012.
    Bayou Corne SInkhole 61.jpg
  • Site of the Texas Brine sinkhole in Bayou Corne. The sinkhole was caused by drilling too close to the edge of the Saltmine.
    Bayou Corne SInkhole 63.jpg
  • Texas Brines mailbox at the site of the Bayou Corne Sinkhole
    Bayou Corne SInkhole 62.jpg
  • Shamika, a cashier at the Shell Station less then a 1/2 from the sinkhole worries about the sinkhole daily.  When the Bayou Corne sinkhole opened up on August 3, 2012 a mandatory evacuation was called and many of the towns residents left. Texas Brine drilled too close to the edge of a salt mine causing it to collapse and cause an industrial disaster.
    Bayou Corne SInkhole 64.jpg
  • The Command Center for the emergency response to the sinkhole in Bayou Corne, in the parking lot of Dennis Landry's rental fishing cabins and boat launch parking lot.
    Bayou Corne SInkhole 66.jpg
  • Bayou Corne- where the earth bubbles and hisses since the sinkhole appeared on Aug. 4th 2012. By Feb. 2014 this side of Bayou Corne was bought out by Texas Brine. A handful of resdients remain on the otherside of town.
    Bayou Corne SInkhole 31.jpg
  • Site of the Texas Brine sinkhole in Bayou Corne. The sinkhole was caused by drilling too close to the edge of the Saltmine.
    Bayou Corne SInkhole 33.jpg
  • Carolyn Welsh on her boat near Bayou Corne. When the Bayou Corne sinkhole opened up on August 3, 2012 a mandatory evacuation was called and she and her husban left moving to a trailer park near by. Texas Brine drilled to close to the edge of a salt mine causing it to collapse and cause an industrial disaster.
    Bayou Corne SInkhole 65.jpg
  • Carla Alleman in front of her 'dream' home in Bayou Corne. She and her husband bought their home and two adjoining lots where their sons built homes. She said finding a comparable situation in the area is not possible and is devastated by the sinkhole. She decided to stop going to most of the meetings and let her lawyers deal with Texas Brine becuase after six months of dealing with little but the sinkhole she realizes it is stressing out her grandchildren and she is missing precious moments in the lives.
    Bayou Corne SInkhole 67.jpg
  • Lilia Alleman-returns home with her grandmother Carla briefly while passing through Bayou Corne . She refers to her home as the sinkhole house.  Lilia is much more fearful and clingy since the sinkhole disaster happened.
    Bayou Corne SInkhole 68.jpg
  • Mona Branum- Is staying in her home despite the evacuation order the state made after the sinkhole appeared in Bayou Corne. Her husband left it for her-what should she do live in a trailer somewhere?, she asks. She would relocate if Texas Brine bought her out since she has safety concerns but that hasn't happened.
    Bayou Corne SInkhole 69.jpg
  • Marvin Vincenty, 84 wants to leave his home in Bayou Corne but his wife does not. He is worried about how big the sinkhole has gotten but figures he is too old to move.
    Bayou Corne SInkhole 70.jpg
  • Donald Gros has no plan of leaving Bayou Corne despite the sinkhole though he realizes he is vulnerable.  When the Bayou Corne sinkhole opened up on August 3, 2012 a mandatory evacuation was called and many of the towns residents left. Texas Brine drilled too close to the edge of a salt mine causing it to collapse and cause an industrial disaster.
    Bayou Corne SInkhole 71.jpg
  • Charlie Hayden recently relocated away from Bayou Corne after the last bout of tremors. His kids were frightened by them so he decided it was time to go.
    Bayou Corne SInkhole 72.jpg
  • Henry a Welsh onhis boat in Bayou Corne  vacated his home along with his wife on  Aug. 4th when the state declared a mandatory evacuation after the sinkhole opened up.  A mandatory evacuation was called and many of the towns residents left. Texas Brine drilled too close to the edge of a salt mine causing it to collapse and cause an industrial disaster.
    Bayou Corne SInkhole 34.jpg
  • Carla Alleman in front of her 'dream' home in Bayou Corne that she no longer lives in. When the Bayou Corne sinkhole opened up on August 3, 2012 a mandatory evacuation was called and many of the towns residents left. Texas Brine drilled too close to the edge of a salt mine causing it to collapse and cause an industrial disaster.
    Bayou Corne SInkhole 36.jpg
  • Carla Alleman in front of her 'dream' home in Bayou Corne. She and her husband bought their home and two adjoining lots where their sons built homes. She said finding a comparable situation in the area is not possible and is devastated by the sinkhole. She decided to stop going to most of the meetings and let her lawyers deal with Texas Brine becuase after six months of dealing with little but the sinkhole she realizes it is stressing out her grandchildren and she is missing precious moments in the lives.
    Bayou Corne SInkhole 35.jpg
  • Lilia Alleman-returns home with her grandmother Carla briefly while passing through Bayou Corne and goes to play on her place set that was built for her just before the sinkhole came to be. She has barely got to use it before her family relocated in early August. She refers to her home as the sinkhole house.
    Bayou Corne SInkhole 37.jpg
  • Mike Schaff- He isn't looking for a buy-out from Texas Brine. He wants them to fix the problem. He would also like to be told the truth as he stated in the meeting one Jan. 30th held by representatives from Texas Brine who are asking for permission to have access to peoples properties so they can set up some devices in order to do seismic testing so they can make a 3-d image of what the salt cavern looks like now.
    Bayou Corne SInkhole 38.jpg
  • Geologist Kevin Hill holds up a map at a meeting for the community set up by Texas Brine to ask the community for permission for access to their properties so they can set up sensors for seismic testing. The state has required Texas Brine to produce a seismic map of the area to get a clear picture of what the salt mine looks like now.
    Bayou Corne SInkhole 74.jpg
  • A camp owner wears a T-shirt with a protest message directed at Texas Brine at a meeting held by the company asking residents to grant them access to their land to do seismic testing. .When the Bayou Corne sinkhole opened up on August 3, 2012 a mandatory evacuation was called and many of the towns residents left. Texas Brine drilled too close too the edge of a salt mine causing it to collapse and cause an industrial disaster.
    Bayou Corne SInkhole 73.jpg
  • Oil sheen on the surface of the Bayou Corne sinkhole seen  on land Texas Brine leases where the salt dome they were mining collapsed. Thought Texas Brine has not officially taken responsibility for the sinkhole they have acknowledge there is a connection to the dome collapse and the natural gas escaping in the area.
    Bayou Corne SInkhole 75.jpg
  • Oil sheen on the surface of the Bayou Corne sinkhole seen  on land Texas Brine leases where the salt dome they were mining collapsed. Thought Texas Brine has not officially taken responsibility for the sinkhole they have acknowledge there is a connection to the dome collapse and the natural gas escaping in the area.
    Bayou Corne SInkhole 76.jpg
  • Oil sheen on the surface of the Bayou Corne sinkhole seen  on land Texas Brine leases where the salt dome they were mining collapsed. Thought Texas Brine has not officially taken responsibility for the sinkhole they have acknowledge there is a connection to the dome collapse and the natural gas escaping in the area.
    Bayou Corne SInkhole 77.jpg
  • A vent put in near the sinkhole in Bayou Corne in the area Texas Brine leases,  used to vent natural gas that has gotten into the aquifer after the sinkhole opened up. When the Bayou Corne sinkhole opened up on August 3, 2012 a mandatory evacuation was called and many of the towns residents left. Texas Brine drilled too close too the edge of a salt mine causing it to collapse and cause an industrial disaster.
    Bayou Corne SInkhole 17.jpg
  • Oil coats the surface of the sinkhole near the site of the collapsed  Texas Brines Salt Cavern in Bayou Corne.
    Bayou Corne SInkhole 78.jpg
  • Oil coats the surface of the sinkhole near the site of the collapsed  Texas Brines Salt Cavern in Bayou Corne. When the Bayou Corne sinkhole opened up on August 3, 2012 a mandatory evacuation was called and many of the towns residents left. Texas Brine drilled too close too the edge of a salt mine causing it to collapse and cause an industrial disaster.
    Bayou Corne SInkhole 79.jpg
  • Bubbles coming up from a location of Bayou Triche in Bayou Corne. New sites where natural gas is coming up have been appearing since about a month before the sinkhole opened up.
    Bayou Corne SInkhole 16.jpg
  • Bubbles coming up from a location of Bayou Triche in Bayou Corne. New sites where natural gas is coming up have been appearing since about a month before the sinkhole opened up.
    Bayou Corne SInkhole 80.jpg
  • Site over the Texas Brine salt cavern that failled causing a 8 acre sinkhole in Bayou Corne. .When the Bayou Corne sinkhole opened up on August 3, 2012 a mandatory evacuation was called and many of the towns residents left. Texas Brine drilled too close too the edge of a salt mine causing it to collapse and cause an industrial disaster.
    Bayou Corne SInkhole 39.jpg
  • Texas Brine storage tanks on near the site of the colapsed salt cavern in Bayou Corne. When the Bayou Corne sinkhole opened up on August 3, 2012 a mandatory evacuation was called and many of the towns residents left. Texas Brine drilled too close too the edge of a salt mine causing it to collapse and cause an industrial disaster.
    Bayou Corne SInkhole 13.jpg
  • Oil coats the surface of the sinkhole near the site of the collapsed  Texas Brines Salt Cavern in Bayou Corne. When the Bayou Corne sinkhole opened up on August 3, 2012 a mandatory evacuation was called and many of the towns residents left. Texas Brine drilled too close too the edge of a salt mine causing it to collapse and cause an industrial disaster.
    Bayou Corne SInkhole 14.jpg
  • Oil coats the surface of the sinkhole near the site of the collapsed  Texas Brines Salt Cavern in Bayou Corne.
    Bayou Corne SInkhole 40.jpg
  • Oil coats the surface of the sinkhole near the site of the collapsed  Texas Brines Salt Cavern in Bayou Corne.
    Bayou Corne SInkhole 42.jpg
  • Oil coats the surface of the sinkhole near the site of the collapsed  Texas Brines Salt Cavern in Bayou Corne.
    Bayou Corne SInkhole 41.jpg
  • Oil coats the surface of the sinkhole near the site of the collapsed  Texas Brines Salt Cavern in Bayou Corne.
    Bayou Corne SInkhole 43.jpg
  • Oil coats the surface of the sinkhole near the site of the collapsed  Texas Brines Salt Cavern in Bayou Corne.
    Bayou Corne SInkhole 44.jpg
  • Bayou Corne SInkhole 45.jpg
  • Construction crews work to build a bern to keep contaminates being released into the marsh from the Texas Brine sinkhole from getting into the surrounding wetlands.
    Bayou Corne SInkhole 46.jpg
  • A model of the sinkhole in Tim Brown's yard illustrates the frustration of the locals who's homes and livelihoods are tied to Bayou Corne. Tim Brown and his wife chose not to heed the mandatory evacuation orders and remain in their home.
    Bayou Corne SInkhole 15.jpg
  • vents being installed behind peoples homes in Bayou Coren Lousian to vent the gas underground that spread when the sinkhole opened.
    Bayou Corne SInkhole 47.jpg
  • vents being installed behind peoples homes in Bayou Coren Lousian to vent the gas underground that spread when the sinkhole opened.
    Bayou Corne SInkhole 49.jpg
  • July 3, 2013, Bayou Corne Louisiana, the picturesque community under mandatory evacuation since Texas Brine's actions caused a sinkhole to open up while mining a salt cavern.  The fate of the community and environmental implications of the sinkhole have yet to be determined.
    Bayou Corne SInkhole 18.jpg
  • July 3, 2013, Pierre Part Louisiana, General Honoré addresses members of the  Bayou Corne community whose lives have been affected by the sinkhole caused by the Texas Brine corporation. On August 4, 2012 a sinkhole opened up over Texas Brine run salt mine resulting in a mandatory evacuation of the town. The fate of the community and environmental implications of the sinkhole have yet to be determined.
    Russel Honoré at Sinkhole02.jpg
  • Moss on live oak trees on the banks of Flat Lake, part of Lousiana's wetlands
    Bayou Corne SInkhole 20.jpg
  • Bald Cypress line Bayou Corne in Lousiana
    Relaxing in the Atchafalaya BasinJ46...jpg
  • August 3, 2013, Bayou Corne, Louisiana,  One year after a sinkhole formed when a salt cavern mined by Texas Brine Co failed , the community,  that has been under mandatory evacuation orders since the incident , gather at  anniversary ceremony a year later. <br />
Texas Brine has started making buy out offers to residents who have been under a mandatory evacuation order for a year.
    Bayou Corne SInkhole 48.jpg
  • August 3, 2013, Bayou Corne, Louisiana , General Rusel Honoré, at a community gathering  on the one year anniversary ceremony since the  sinkhole formed after a salt cavern failed that was being mined by Texas Brine Co, causing a mandatory evacuation.<br />
Texas Brine has started making buy out offers to residents who have been under a mandatory evacuation order for a year.
    Russel Honoré at Sinkhole01.jpg
  • August 3, 2013, Bayou Corne, Louisiana , Oil and debris on the surface of the sinkhole created when a salt cavern mined by Texas Brine Co. failed.<br />
Over the coarse of the year the sinkhole has grown from 3 acres to 24 acres. The residents of Bayou Corne have been under a mandatory evacuation for a year.
    Bayou Corne SInkhole 02.jpg
  • Boom all around the area the sinkhole is in in Bayou Corne set up to prevent oil and polluted debris from spreading.
    Bayou Corne SInkhole 50.jpg
  • Bayou Corne SInkhole 04.jpg
  • August 3, 2013, Bayou Corne, Louisiana , Oil and debris on the surface of the sinkhole created when a salt cavern mined by Texas Brine Co. failed.<br />
Over the coarse of the year the sinkhole has grown from 3 acres to 24 acres. The residents of Bayou Corne have been under a mandatory evacuation for a year.
    Bayou Corne SInkhole 51.jpg
  • August 3, 2013, Bayou Corne, Louisiana , Oil and debris on the surface of the sinkhole created when a salt cavern mined by Texas Brine Co. failed.<br />
Over the coarse of the year the sinkhole has grown from 3 acres to 24 acres. The residents of Bayou Corne have been under a mandatory evacuation for a year.
    Bayou Corne SInkhole 52.jpg
  • On the site of the Bayou Corne Sinkhole- aug 3, 2013
    Bayou Corne SInkhole 06.jpg
  • August 3, 2013, Bayou Corne, Louisiana , Oil and debris on the surface of the sinkhole created when a salt cavern mined by Texas Brine Co. failed.<br />
Over the coarse of the year the sinkhole has grown from 3 acres to 24 acres. The residents of Bayou Corne have been under a mandatory evacuation for a year.
    Bayou Corne SInkhole 05.jpg
  • August 3, 2013, Bayou Corne, Louisiana , Texas Brine's spokesman Sonny Cranch holds boom near the oil covered  banks of  the sinkhole that was created when a salt cavern mined by Texas Brine Co. failed.<br />
Over the coarse of the year the sinkhole has grown from 3 acres to 24 acres. The residents of Bayou Corne have been under a mandatory evacuation for a year.
    Bayou Corne SInkhole 53.jpg
  • Bayou Corne SInkhole 07.jpg
  • Bayou Corne SInkhole 08.jpg
  • Bayou Corne SInkhole 09.jpg
  • August 3, 2013, Bayou Corne, Louisiana , Satirical lawn art depicting the sinkhole that was created when a salt cavern being mined by Texas Brine Co. failed.<br />
Over the coarse of the year the sinkhole has grown from 3 acres to 24 acres. The residents of Bayou Corne have been under a mandatory evacuation for a year.
    Bayou Corne SInkhole 10.jpg
  • August 3, 2013, Bayou Corne, Louisiana , Protest sign on a resident's  lawn raising issue with the sinkhole that was created when a salt cavern being mined by Texas Brine Co. failed.<br />
Over the coarse of the year the sinkhole has grown from 3 acres to 24 acres. The residents of Bayou Corne have been under a mandatory evacuation for a year becuase the area has gas pressure under the community.
    Bayou Corne SInkhole 12.jpg
  • August 3, 2013, Bayou Corne, Louisiana , Protest sign on a resident's  lawn raising issue with the sinkhole that was created when a salt cavern being mined by Texas Brine Co. failed.<br />
Over the coarse of the year the sinkhole has grown from 3 acres to 24 acres. The residents of Bayou Corne have been under a mandatory evacuation for a year becuase the area has gas pressure under the community.
    Bayou Corne SInkhole 54.jpg
  • August 3, 2013, Bayou Corne, Louisiana , Protest sign on a resident's  lawn raising issue with the sinkhole that was created when a salt cavern being mined by Texas Brine Co. failed.<br />
Over the coarse of the year the sinkhole has grown from 3 acres to 24 acres. The residents of Bayou Corne have been under a mandatory evacuation for a year becuase the area has gas pressure under the community.
    Bayou Corne SInkhole 11.jpg
  • August 3, 2013, Bayou Corne, Louisiana , Protest sign on a resident's  lawn raising issue with the sinkhole that was created when a salt cavern being mined by Texas Brine Co. failed.<br />
Over the coarse of the year the sinkhole has grown from 3 acres to 24 acres. The residents of Bayou Corne have been under a mandatory evacuation for a year becuase the area has gas pressure under the community.
    Bayou Corne SInkhole 55.jpg
  • Mike Schaff at his home in Bayou Corne. He settled with Texas Brine and moved out in Feubuary 2014.
    Bayou Corne SInkhole 57.jpg
  • August 3, 2013, Bayou Corne, Louisiana , aerial view of the sinkhole created when a salt cavern mined by Texas Brine Co. failed a year ago. Over the coarse of the year the sinkhole has grown from 3 acres to 24 acres. The residents of Bayou Corne have been under a mandatory evacuation for a year.
    J46A3482-Edit.jpg
  • August 3, 2013, Bayou Corne, Louisiana,  Protest signs on a riser where residents who have been under mandatory evacuation for one year since a sinkhole formed when a salt cavern mined by Texas Brine Co failed gather to commemorate the incident <br />
Texas Brine has started making buy out offers to residents who have been under a mandatory evacuation order for a year.
    Bayou Corne SInkhole 21.jpg
  • August 3, 2013, Bayou Corne, Louisiana,  Protest signs on a riser where residents who have been under mandatory evacuation for one year since a sinkhole formed when a salt cavern mined by Texas Brine Co failed gather to commemorate the incident <br />
Texas Brine has started making buy out offers to residents who have been under a mandatory evacuation order for a year.
    Bayou Corne SInkhole 22.jpg
  • Russel Honoré  leading a prayer at a  ceremony held on the anniversary of the Bayou Corne Sinkhole
    Russel Honoré at Sinkhole03.jpg
  • August 3, 2013, Bayou Corne, Louisiana,  One year after a sinkhole formed when a salt cavern mined by Texas Brine Co failed , the community,  that has been under mandatory evacuation orders since the incident , gathers at  anniversary ceremony a year later. <br />
Texas Brine has started making buy out offers to residents who have been under a mandatory evacuation order for a year.
    Bayou Corne SInkhole 24.jpg
  • August 3, 2013, Bayou Corne, Louisiana,  Protest signs on a riser where residents who have been under mandatory evacuation for one year since a sinkhole formed when a salt cavern mined by Texas Brine Co failed gather to commemorate the incident <br />
Texas Brine has started making buy out offers to residents who have been under a mandatory evacuation order for a year.
    Bayou Corne SInkhole 25.jpg
  • Marty Triche, Assumption Parish Police Juror of Ward 5 speaking at a ceremony held on the anniversary of the Bayou Corne Sinkhole
    Bayou Corne SInkhole 26.jpg
  • August 3, 2013, Bayou Corne, Louisiana,  Protest signs on a riser where residents who have been under mandatory evacuation for one year since a sinkhole formed when a salt cavern mined by Texas Brine Co failed gather to commemorate the incident <br />
Texas Brine has started making buy out offers to residents who have been under a mandatory evacuation order for a year.
    Bayou Corne SInkhole 27.jpg
  • August 3, 2013, Bayou Corne, Louisiana,  Wilma Subra speaks to the community. One year after a sinkhole formed when a salt cavern mined by Texas Brine Co failed , the community,  that has been under mandatory evacuation orders since the incident , gather at  anniversary ceremony a year later. <br />
Texas Brine has started making buy out offers to residents who have been under a mandatory evacuation order for a year.
    Bayou Corne SInkhole 29.jpg
  • Trees on the edge of the sinkhole
    Bayou Corne SInkhole 01.jpg
  • Sign marking the nubmer of days people in Bayou Corne have been under an evacuation order after the sinkhole openned up.
    Bayou Corne SInkhole 28.jpg
  • August 3, 2013, Bayou Corne, Louisiana , aerial view of the sinkhole created when a salt cavern mined by Texas Brine Co. failed a year ago. Over the coarse of the year the sinkhole has grown from 3 acres to 24 acres. The residents of Bayou Corne have been under a mandatory evacuation for a year.
    Bayou Corne SInkhole 30.jpg
  • Grand Bayou Louisana, part of an area know as Cancer Alley.
    Bayou Corne SInkhole 32.jpg
  • Tim Brown in front of his home with a model of the sinkhole in his yard.
    J46A6730.jpg
  • Tim Brown with his dog in Bayou Corne
    114A5598-Edit.jpg