A huge sinkhole could be the Grinch that stole Christmas for some Lehigh County families.

That sinkhole appears to be growing and crews are in a frantic race to save several houses.

It is all happening on Irma Drive in Hanover Township, just east of the Lehigh Valley Airport.

So far three houses have been evacuated but everyone else on this block is worried.

It formed Monday morning and no one's sure just how deep it goes.

As cranes dig up what's left of their yards and their homes' foundations, residents of this area in Lehigh County can only watch in disbelief.

"It's very unreal," said Joanie Smith, who was evacuated from her home.

What started out as a water main break Monday morning has now turned into a huge and perhaps growing sinkhole--one that has forced three families to evacuate their homes perhaps until Christmas.

"I'm hoping definitely by Christmas. By the looks of it, we might be in there," said Christian Diaz, who was evacuated.

Crews are filling in truckloads of cement just to stabilize these homes' foundations before they dig even further to see just how deep this hole goes.

Meantime, nervous neighbors wonder if their properties are next.

"It's just a constant worry, you don't know what is happening and you're seeing them dig this hole, and you're wondering what's going to happen next," said neighbor Margaret Hess.

"I was partially packed to go," said Karen Frisch who lives nearby. "I'm going to be packing more and maybe taking some precious things away from here, just in case."

For the Smiths, almost as important as their home, is saving a tree they planted for their daughter who died 6 years ago.

"I've been taking really good care of it over the years," said Michael Smith. "These guys said that they're going to be really careful to make sure that it's taken care of."

That tree is still standing but right above it you can see a big crack forming in the side of one of these homes.

All of these people have places to stay but none of them has sinkhole insurance.