Even so, some of those facts are slow to sink in. Local legend has it that mounds built by the Tocobaga tribe hundreds of years ago, protected the area from major storms for centuries. With reverse storm surge, especially in larger storms like Ian, the opposite happens, explained Pastelok. she said. "If and when Tampa is hit by a hurricane from the southwest, it wont take much of a hurricane to cause severe and catastrophic damage due to storm surge. Kottlowski cautions that the Tampa Bay area is "long overdue for a landfall," but he attributes the region's location and the history of tracks that storms take as the reason the area has escaped the worst throughout the years. Sept. 27, 2022. Flooding and wind damage from hurricanes is getting more common in the United States, and that trend will accelerate and threaten millions of people as the Earth gets hotter according to new research. Hundreds of years before them, so did the Tocobagan tribe, which built mounds along the Pinellas peninsula. It's 11-foot storm surge flooded downtown Tampa and turned St. Petersburg into an. But, the note was clear, "my family would be drowned. Have the app? Windshield covers and other handy gear you need for, 18 trendy cowboy boots to wear this winter, 18 books youll want to read on Dr. Seuss Day, Lake Wales man accused of stealing $400K in property, Burger King brings back fan-favorite item, Missing Child Alert issued for Florida girl, 3, Dead body, infant found inside Tampa apartment, Man arrested after dumping 30 mattresses, box springs:, 4 people found dead inside Florida home, police say, FL man wins lottery, state claims he owes them money, Florida moves to expand Dont Say Gay law, Florida man wins $1 million from $30 scratch-off, Florida man buys $50 lottery game, wins $1M. Lauren Fox, AccuWeather staff writer. "But it was still a hurricane and caused lots of damage.". The Tocobagans' village capital was where Safety Harbor is today, but their mounds, both sacred and burial, are found from the Gandy Bridge along the peninsula to the Gulf Coast.They either wanted to protect their lands, or "they wanted hurricanes to come here and punish us for Spaniards" who arrived here around the 16th century, Farias said. A storm like the 1921 hurricane would turn Pinellas County from a peninsula into two separate islands. Is Tampa Safe from Hurricanes? In fact, our coastal location, topography, and large population make us significantly vulnerable to a wide array of hazards, including hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, and sinkholes. A new study suggests that climate change is making back-to-back hurricanes more common, which could make it tougher for coastal communities to recover. Downed power lines in Ybor City, the trolley line washed away along Bayshore Boulevard, flooded homes in Hyde Park, and docks and boats washed ashore along where the current Tampa Riverwalk now runs. Tampa is an amazing place to live, work, and visit, but like many places it is not immune to major disasters. If you use a windshield cover, you can at least forget about scrapping the ice off your windshield to save some time and hassle. Jeannot will be a restricted free agent this summer and . The primitive way of tracking storms in the 1920s would prove deadly for some. As the Gulf Coast just south of Tampa Bay recovers from the devastation left from Hurricane Ian, many Tampa Bay residents are breathing an uneasy sigh of relief. "If there was a catastrophe, with that flooding of 10 to 12 feet, what would the environmental impact be with all those chemicals? On October 25, 1921, the Tampa Bay Area suffered the most destructive hurricane to hit the area since the 1800s. "Given all the development across Pinellas County, Hillsborough County, the Tampa Bay area, the devastation would be catastrophic. Hurricane Wilma in 2004, regarded as the worst storm to hit the area, passed just west of Key West and produced a storm surge of 8 feet leaving 60-70 percent of the island under water. Many of the other cities in the region have experienced similar explosive growth. Clearly, when you look at the Tampa Bay area, one of the reasons why we fear storms is because of the sensitivity of this area and the fragility of this area, DeSantis said. Fox, of Nokomis, who has lived in the area since 1959, shakes her head. Yet for years storms seemed to bypass the region somewhat inexplicably. They can come from a group of models or one ensemble model that creates multiple possible storm tracks. High winds can cause a tremendous amount of damage during a hurricane. However, only a few have survived the development the area has undergone in modern times. Most of the dead drowned in the storm surge. Evidence to support the tale does not exist, however, according to everyone who studies either county history or American Indian beliefs. The population significantly decreased with the arrival of Europeans (Spanish explorer Pnfilo de Narvez, to be exact) and eventually the tribe was extinct by the 1700s. A storm surge of up to 11 feet damaged and destroyed many structures along coastal locations from Pasco County south through southwest Florida. So while we love the memes of a carefree Tampa: Make sure to prepare for every hurricane. "It really tells us two things. Those numbers also go a long way to explaining why it would be naive to expect property insurance rates in Floridas coastal counties to tumble anytime soon. These include high winds, heavy rains, a storm surge, and tornadoes. In the case of Charley Desoto, Hardee and Polk counties all experienced winds gusts well over 100 mph, causing catastrophic damage. The previous year, a much-weakened Tropical Storm Eta made landfall about 130 miles north of Tampa in November 2020. It also once saved the life of an early settler after bringing his family to the bay to escape a storm surge. "I think the Indians would have known because they were so in tune with God and nature," he said. By the time it reached Hardee, Desoto and Polk County the storm was a category 1 hurricane. How much should we rebuild on barrier islands? The First Street report also showed how climate change will push hurricane force winds farther inland, not just in Florida but in places like Arkansas and Tennessee. The storm caused at least eight fatalities and mass destruction to the area. ", Ybor City Tampa Bay, Florida, on Jan. 19, 2019. Every room will have a view of the water. Miami takes the number one spot on this list with a 16 percent chance of experiencing the impacts of a hurricane in any given year. We don't know.". The third strike against the myth: If the American Indians did believe Sarasota was protected, more of them might have lived here. Hurricanes are a fact of life in Florida. VIDEO: Man casually rides jet ski near Sarasota as Hurricane Ian moves in. "The Spaniards called them gentle giants and said they were. In that time, they traveled to historical societies, museums, and areas hit the hardest by the storm. Rui Farias, executive director of the St. Petersburg Museum of History, told the Tampa Bay Times after Hurricane Irmas near miss in 2017 that many people still believe it. Newspaper reports at the time warned of a hurricane churning in the Gulf of Mexico, but no one knew where or when it would hit. Despite being in an evacuation zone, the family went into Hurricane Irma planning to stay at their home, though their Plan B was to flee to their son's house a mile away. The area has seen a fair share of damaging winds and storm surge flooding from plenty of tropical storms. "It gets passed down from neighbor to neighbor.". Elev8 Fun is a family-friendly entertainment concept that is coming to How To Save Money While Preparing for Hurricane Season, Prepare for Hurricane Season: Learn New Hillsborough Evacuation Zones, Ready Pinellas Emergency Planning App Updated for 2022 Hurricane Season, Expect a Competitive Shopping Season, Despite Few Available Homes, Gasparilla International Film Festival Draws Hundreds of Submissions, City Taking Next Steps in Expanding Tampa Riverwalk, New Research Measures the Quality of Work and Life in the Tampa Bay region, Ranked: The Worlds Most and Least Powerful Passports in 2023. Depends on who you ask,. Based upon data from NOAAs Hurricane Research Division, here are the top five most vulnerable U.S. cities to hurricanes. "Tampa Bay is very surge-prone because of its orientation." The National Hurricane Center is predicting storm surge in Tampa Bay and surrounding waters of between 5 and 10 feet (1.5 and 3. Ron DeSantis took note of the regions vulnerability in a Monday afternoon news conference in Largo, Florida. And a twist. "Could it be people from the past protecting the present?" Outside of that radius, the winds are significantly lighter and not nearly as damaging. "That'll be good," LaMarre said. We have updated our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. "Every spaghetti line had the thing going into St. Petersburg. July 2, 2020, 10:58 AM. A family was rushing to higher ground as the storm surge came in. Many of the 347,645 people living in the area have homes along the coast, making residents susceptible to storm surge. The National Hurricane Center is predicting storm surge in Tampa Bay and surrounding waters of between 5 and 10 feet (1.5 and 3 meters) above normal tide conditions and rainfall of between 10 and 15 inches (12 and 25 centimeters) because of Hurricane Ian. The Tampa Bay area is particularly vulnerable to hurricanes because it is located on the Gulf of Mexico. But after wreaking havoc in the Florida Keys, Naples and Miami, Irma weakened and limped to the east of Tampa Bay as a manageable Category 1. Today, that number is almost 395,000. With satellites, cell phones, and advanced technology, we can track storms days, even weeks in advance. That has been our story for nearly a hundred years now," Rui Farias, executive director of the St. Petersburg Museum of History, told AccuWeather. The last direct strike was in 1921. Although he did not know much about the history of the Calusa Indians, what he did know was the legend in Tampa that the Calusa Indians cast a spell to keep them safe. Over the past century, there have been several close calls. "Large burial mounds remaining from Tocobaga civilization are still present today, with the oldest one located overlooking Old Tampa Bay. Those figures are based on a Tampa . This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The faded ink had several names at the top that were illegible. Turn them in to HCSO Valentines. HURRICANE IRMA: Find all of our coverage here. Although there were tragically two deaths in the Sarasota area, and reports of damage and power outages elsewhere, the region was, for the most part, spared. Hurricane Ian could threaten all of that development. told the Washington Post in 2017 following Hurricane Irma. Tampa Bay was beginning a land boom, and the roaring twenties were in full swing. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. The members of the Editorial Board are Editor of Editorials Graham Brink, Sherri Day, Sebastian Dortch, John Hill, Jim Verhulst and Chairman and CEO Conan Gallaty. The most prominent story has to do with American Indians. "Folk tales give us comfort, so we use something we can't disprove," Baram said. The adjacent Gulf of Mexico is also shallow. "Technically speaking, Native Americans lived everywhere around the state," said Anne McCudden, executive director of the Seminole Tribe of Florida. The City of Oldsmar posting the video on YouTube. For centuries, the Tocobaga tribe inhabited the coastline of Tampa Bay, surviving on a diet consisting mostly of fish and shellfish. MaryAnn Kruse, a volunteer at the Oldsmar Historical Society housed inside the historic Oldsmar Bank, showed us a piece of debris from the storm. Thats unlikely to change anytime soon. The storm surge from that hurricane, estimated at Category 3 with winds of up to 129 mph ( 207 km/h) was pegged at 11 feet (3.3 meters). In 2004, Hurricane Charley made a turn towards Punta Gorda, sparing Tampa. Thats because the worst of the winds and surge in a hurricane are often confined to a very small radius around the center of the storm. One, we are very worried about hurricanes. So, for everyone watching this report or reading this article, whether you believe in jinxes, superstitions, curses or the supernatural, do us a favor and knock on some wood for good luck. A report from the First Street Foundation paints the states grim hurricane future. Is there a plan in place for those?" Hurricane Ian was growing stronger as it barreled toward Cuba on a track to hit Florida's west coast as a major hurricane as early as Wednesday. When Hurricane Isabel struck the region in 2003, the Army Corp of Engineers was forced to fill up an inlet that was created when the storm split Hatteras Island between Frisco and Hatteras, North Carolina. Tampa Bay has had some close calls with hurricanes. The mounds were used as temples, homes and burial grounds. Where to find fish fries in Tampa Bay during Lent, Two FL beaches make Tripadvisors best of the best, Worlds largest bounce house coming to Tampa, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. After the infamous Tarpon Springs hurricane, the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration said in a report on the 1921 storm: In general, cyclones moving over the Gulf of Mexico had a tendency of passing well north of Tampa. Central Florida includes the Orlando, Daytona, and Jacksonville areas. Waves from the Bay almost reached the streets of Ybor City. "You see?" There are red flags everywhere: Many of our most densely populated communities are adjacent to the ocean . "It looks a lot better out there from any of the beaches to the south," Heil said. 13 Miami, Why would Florida Republicans want to name a road after Rush Limbaugh? I think were in the perfect spot, Bonita Bay resident Chris Williams told the Post. Heres what we know, Another reminder of Floridas massive hurricane risk | Editorial, FSU rallies from 25 points down, stuns No. How to avoid the potentially deadly grip of a rip current. At least eight people died and damage was estimated at $5 million at the time. The article went on to say, "the tropical storm which was reported Monday to be moving towards St. Petersburg, failed to reach here with any force Monday night, according to the local weather bureau.". Irma's eye was directly in line with Tampa and St. Petersburg - Florida's third and fourth largest cities in the state's second most populous region - when it left Cuba as a Category 3 hurricane. Its no wonder that actuaries get cross-eyed looking at Floridas property insurance risk. As the Tampa Bay Times explains, it's likely that Ian will bring up to a foot of rain in the area and some experts, including meteorologist Jeff Masters, have compared it to 2005's Hurricane Katrina. Want next-level safety, ad-free? It made landfall near Tarpon Springs just north of Tampa Bay, killing eight. A new study warns that hurricanes are getting more dangerous because of climate change. The highest storm surge was in the downtown Tampa and Tarpon Springs areas. "There is. Or is there a supernatural force protecting us? Also lurking in the waves and wind are the impacts of climate change and the higher sea levels scientists say it is causing. Why here? Known as the Southernmost City in the Continental United States, Key West is directly impacted by a hurricane every 6.04 years, according to Hurricane City. It derailed the railroad in that area which was obviously a significant impact to travel commerce and people coming into the area. Many believe it protects them from hurricanes, even though Hurricane Wilma blew through town just two years ago. "Their value, however, is that, in the short term, they usually show a 'path' of likely tracks for tropical storms, giving residents of those areas within the path more time to prepare.". The oldest remaining one is located near Old Tampa Bay. "Tampa Bay is very surge-prone because of its orientation." The National Hurricane Center is predicting storm surge in Tampa Bay and surrounding waters of between 5 and 10 feet above normal. Just as an example, the city of Tampa had about 51,000 residents in 1920. It made landfall in Big Pine Key as a category 4, causing devastating damage. Hurricane Easy in 1950 produced 38.70 inches of rain in Yankeetown within 24 hours. That's not going to drain out quickly," said Cathie Perkins . "On the Port Resiliency Index, developed by the Gulf of Mexico Alliance, the Port scored 95%.". Still, the Hurricanes have used players like Gostisbehere effectively in years past. Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System. "Tampa City of Ruins," "Bayshore Swept Clean," "Estimate Losses More than a Million Dollars," "Refugees Flee from Flood at Oldsmar," "Two Dead at St. Petersburg: Twelve are Trapped on Island," "One Drowns and another Electrocuted. "The Mississippi River is almost 30 feet above the city level just to put in perspective of how low New Orleans is in terms of elevation," Samuhel said. Some estimates are as much as 15 feet of storm surge. The Predators will receive: Jeannot, 25, comes to Tampa Bay as he finishes up a two-year contract that carries an $800K average annual value. In 2017, Hurricane Irma appeared to be headed straight into the Gulf of Mexico toward the St. Petersburg and Tampa area, before it turned into Marco Island instead, 146 miles south of St. Petersburg and Tampa, allowing the area to largely avoid a catastrophic direct strike. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) Its been more than a century since a major storm like Hurricane Ian has struck the Tampa Bay area, which blossomed from a few hundred thousand people in 1921 to more than 3 million today. The Tampa-St. Petersburg area has an 11 percent chance of feeling the impacts of a hurricane in any given year. But it was damaged to varying degrees by hurricanes in 1926, 1944 and 1950, as well as Donna in 1960 and Charley in 2004. A number of other explanations for the relative safety have surfaced, most of them questionable. "The wind speeds move counterclockwise around these storms if it moved and it landfall north of Tampa Bay the Southwest winds would funnel all that water into Tampa Bay it would turn Pinellas County into about two islands, and the water would get trapped there for days," LaMarre said. There are urban legends that the Sunshine Skyway protects Tampa Bay. (VIAVAL/Getty Images). Tuesday, October 25, 1921, was the last time Tampa Bay got hit by a major hurricane. And affordable property insurance could be added to the endangered species list. By As hurricanes move inland, they can no longer feed off of the warm water of the Gulf of Mexico or Atlantic Ocean, and so they lose strength. Red tide is back (again) in Pinellas County. Part of being ready is encouraging our elected officials to address the tough question about where to keep building and how to build. In 1981, Swanson also talked about her life in Oldsmar for a research paper for the University of Florida. The day it roared ashore, the morning edition of the St. Petersburg Times had the headline "City Escapes Big Hurricane." Its one of the most populated areas on Floridas Gulf Coast, but hasnt had a direct hit from a landfalling hurricane in 100 years. The popular refrain in you hear in Tampa Bay is that the area has not been directly hit by a major hurricane in over 100 years. Even if the hurricane makes . But, two major hurricanes in 173 years are still two too many. Paluska and ABC Action News photographer Reed Moeller worked on this report for several weeks. "As they are in this two-story building, the water is rising even higher, and you know this was a kid's account talking about it. "After this interview, I'm going to go knock on wood cause I'm superstitious," ABC Action News reporter Michael Paluska told Brian LaMarre, the Meteorologist in Charge at the National Weather Service in Tampa. It was a formidable storm, but nowhere near as strong as it could have been. The last direct strike was in 1921. Not since the Tarpon Springs hurricane struck the region in 1921 has Tampa Bay been directly hit by a major storm. I was at work. "We've got the high areas in our country we'd be moving people and our assets and staging things in advance. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way, Burgert Brothers Photographic Collection at the Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative, waves from the bay almost breaking in the streets of Ybor City. Lisa Sinatra, an assistant principal at Dixie Hollins High who helped out at the shelter at St. Petersburg High, also put her faith in the legend. Try searching for a city, zip code or point of interest. We havent done enough to fortify coastal areas against sea-level rise. The storms are coming. Parker, who has lived in Sarasota for 14 years, rolls her eyes. In addition to this, a majority of the population resides within 20 miles of the coastline increasing the risk of high property damage. The findings highlight a counterintuitive effect of . Tracking storms in 1921 was primitive. Tampa has avoided a direct hit by a major hurricane since 1921." This map of Cat 3 storms shows only one direct hit on Englewood in 1944 since 1851 However The Great Hurricane of 1921, The No-Name Storm of October 08, 1993 and many lesser unnamed storms have done extensive damage Links related to the "Indian Legend" It made landfall in Big Pine Key as a. Others believe that they blessed the lands to stay eternally safe from destructive storms and hurricanes. And with so many new residents moving to the Sunshine State, who have yet to experience a direct hit from a hurricane, emergency managers are concerned residents may not fully understand threat. Hurricane Irma is the most recent in 2017. Tampa Bay has had many close calls since 1921. Sarasota is protected from hurricanes because the American Indians who once lived here knew it was a safe place, which is why they decided to live here. *Those of us in school in Tampa remember it with dread and fondness. This map shows hurricanes that have passed with 100 miles of St. Petersburg, Florida since 1960. The western coast of Florida has endured its share of hurricanes, and the city of Tampa is no exception. (DroneBase via AP), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. In the Tampa Bay Area, only 2 of the above catastrophic hurricanes impacted the area Charley and Irma. Some locals claim the tribe blessed the mounds for protection from hurricanes and other hazards, but we have yet to confirm the validity of their story. Bonni Fox, from a neighbor. However, that hasnt prevented the scientific community from noticing this odd pattern. Here are some major hurricanes the past 60 years that have just avoided us: In 2004 alone, there were FOUR hurricanes set to hit the area. They lived in the area from around 900 to 1500s. "Port Tampa Bay was also the first U.S. seaport to be named 'Storm Ready' by the National Weather Service when we received the designation. Everything underwater, massive flooding," Dr. Luther said. I keep my fingers crossed all hurricane season," Dr. Luther said. But the Director of the National Hurricane Center, Ken Graham, said that our luck is bound to run out at some point and we need to be prepared for that eventuality. Due to global warming, global climate models predict hurricanes will likely cause more intense rainfall and have an increased coastal flood risk due to higher storm surge caused by rising seas, Angela Colbert, a scientist at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory, wrote in a June report. It was so strong that it caused damage to coastal structures which were miles away from Pasco County south through southwest Florida and even destroyed ships smashing them against docks after pulling them off their moorings. Or, the ancient American Indian burial grounds scattered throughout the county are keeping the storms at bay. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. The Tampa Bay History Center is built on top of the fort's infirmary. Hurricane-force winds can destroy mobile homes and buildings. Those turned out to be false. The highest storm surge was in the downtown Tampa and Tarpon Springs areas. Reports said that once the storm passed, soldiers celebrated in the streets drinking whiskey, grateful that no lives were lost. We keep building in the most storm-prone areas. "I like to believe those things are true," Farias mused. Tampa Bay has had some close calls with hurricanes. On the western edge of St. Petersburg, Doris and Erik Anderson live on Sacred Lands. "The Tampa International Airport is 25 miles [from where Irma's center was] but the eastern part of the city extends well over 20 miles to the east," Kottlowski explained. "I told you about that blessing.". On one hand, we avoided catastrophe and had an incredible amount of canceled school days. And areas just miles away from the storm like Sarasota, St. Pete and Tampa did not even experience hurricane force gusts. Its easy to become inured to hurricane risks. The 20 U.S. cities most in danger of getting smacked by a major hurricane in the next decades are all in Florida. 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Spaniards called them gentle giants and said they were years storms seemed to bypass the region somewhat.... Rain in Yankeetown within 24 hours modern times its share of damaging winds and storm surge was the... ) in Pinellas County, why is tampa protected from hurricanes Tampa Bay 173 years are still two too.. Category 1 hurricane. areas just miles away from the Bay to escape a storm surge which... Category 1 hurricane. Reed Moeller worked on this report for several weeks storm passed, soldiers celebrated the... Built on top of the beaches to the endangered species list Port Resiliency Index, by... Rewritten, or redistributed died and damage was estimated at $ 5 million at the time reached. Into two separate islands devastation would be catastrophic with dread and fondness may not be published broadcast! Pinellas County would prove deadly for some burial mounds remaining from Tocobaga civilization are still present,! 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