ALLENTOWN, Pa. – Failing infrastructure is keeping two families from going home.<\/p>\n
It has been three months since a sinkhole opened on 15th Street in Allentown. Since then, both families say they’ve exhausted every option.<\/p>\n
In part one of this special report<\/a>, we took you through the damaged homes.\u00a0Both homeowners say they have had their insurance claims denied.<\/p>\n Katherine Simbana calls the situation traumatizing, looking everywhere for help and every sign of hope leading to a dead end.<\/p>\n Simbana most recently taking her concerns to Lehigh County Authority.<\/p>\n In the meeting, which was recorded and posted online, the authority explained how their crew was working on a water main break as the sinkhole on 15th street opened.\u00a0It was a day when inches of snow covered the ground.<\/p>\n Katherine is looking for more than answers; she also wants help.<\/p>\n “What insurance told me is that this is going to happen at any time because the Lehigh Valley in general has this problem,” she explained. “It can be in 200 years, it can be in 50 years, but this water made the process sooner.”<\/p>\n Katherine says despite Lehigh County Authority voicing its desire to help during the meeting, she received an email less than a day later she says is leaving her with little hope, since both insurance companies are denying the claims.<\/p>\n We reached out to the Lehigh County Authority. They declined an on-camera interview request but provided 69 News with this statement:<\/p>\n “The sinkhole and water main break that occurred in January were stabilized and repaired within the public right-of-way, and water service was restored. We understand how disruptive and stressful this situation has been for the residents involved, and we are committed to approaching it with care and sensitivity. LCA is actively working through the insurance process and coordinating with all appropriate parties as that review continues. While we are evaluating what support may be available, our focus remains on supporting those affected and maintaining the safety and reliability of our system.”<\/p>\n Both families are living proof that when infrastructure fails, there is not much of a safety net for residents.<\/p>\n “If it’s from the nature why the city or state doesn’t have any resources,” she said. “This is what I don’t understand.”<\/p>\n While investigating this issue, we learned that many Pennsylvania residents don’t have sinkhole insurance and would face the same fate if their home was condemned when the earth shifted.<\/p>\n State Representative Emily Kinkead is hoping that changes. She is the prime sponsor on House Bill 589, an act establishing a landslide and sinkhole insurance. The program would be modeled after Pennsylvania’s Mine Subsidence Insurance.<\/p>\n “Pennsylvania has the only state run insurance plan around land movement in the nation.\u00a0We have a mine subsidence insurance program, it is incredibly effective and it came out of the same idea.\u00a0The commercial market was not meeting the need,” Kinkead explained.<\/p>\n If passed, this legislation would make sure those who live in areas prone to sinkholes and landslides know about the risks and this state insurance option.<\/p>\n “If they purchased this insurance, and on day one they were impacted by a sinkhole or landslide, then they would have the coverage,” she explained.<\/p>\n The legislation passed the State House with bi-partisan support; now it is in committee in the senate waiting consideration.<\/p>\n You can read more about House Bill 589: https:\/\/www.palegis.us\/legislation\/bills\/2025\/hb589<\/a><\/p>\n As for Cynthia and Katherine, it’s unclear what happens next.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Both families now have GoFundMe pages set up where they are looking for support.<\/p>\n \u00a0Simbana family: https:\/\/www.gofundme.com\/f\/help-me-and-my-daughter-return-home-after-ground-collapse?lang=en_US<\/a><\/p>\n