*Those of us in school in Tampa remember it with dread and fondness. "The probabilities are based upon 126 years of hurricane data and storm paths dating back to the 1800s," AccuWeather Hurricane Expert Dan Kottlowski said. ", Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. 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Eight people were killed when the storm hit the seaside town with 120 mph. The last time Tampa Bay sustained a direct hit by a hurricane was in October 1921, a full century ago, before hurricanes were given names. This large wind field is what caused all the power outages and damage. Ron DeSantis took note of the regions vulnerability in a Monday afternoon news conference in Largo, Florida. told the Washington Post in 2017 following Hurricane Irma. "I like to believe those things are true," Farias mused. Also known as the Tarpon Springs hurricane, the Category 3 storm leveled the region with up to 115 mph winds. Tampa is also located on the coast, which makes it vulnerable to the storm surge that can accompany a hurricane. 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. "Technically speaking, Native Americans lived everywhere around the state," said Anne McCudden, executive director of the Seminole Tribe of Florida. 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. Hours later, Tampa was under 11 feet of water. On Nov. 14, 1993, during Founder's Day she talked about her memories of the storm. The city has since made drastic improvements to its levee system since Katrina left most of the city under several feet of water. "Like Miami, Tampa is a large metropolitan area and the effects of a hurricane would be widespread throughout the city," Samuhel explained. The most recent near-miss occurred in August 2021 when Tropical Storm Fred came within 195 miles of Tampa. Tampa Bay has dodged a direct hurricane hit for a century. "It's sort of protected here.". The city hasnt suffered a direct hit by a strong hurricane since the 1921 Tampa Bay Hurricane, the first major hurricane to hit the city, but 68 tropical storms and hurricanes have passed within 60 miles of the city according to Hurricane City. The explorers visited the Calusa tribe just south in Charlotte Harbor, and the Tocobaga just north in Tampa Bay, but they passed over the stretch of relatively linear coast in between. It was so tightly wound that many likened it to a giant tornado, causing buzz saw damage along its path. "I think it's kind of cool. No one spared the storm's wrath from Tampa to Tarpon Springs to Oldsmar to the Village of Cortez. "I think the Indians would have known because they were so in tune with God and nature," he said. The company Elev8 Fun will open its next location at Citrus Park Mall. (VIAVAL/Getty Images). Is Tampa protected from hurricanes? Hurricane Gladys in 1968, Hurricane Donna, 1960, Hurricane Easy, 1950, and the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane. It made landfall near Tarpon Springs just north of Tampa Bay, killing eight. 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. Is Tampa Safe from Hurricanes? While railroad stocks dominated in the 19th century, industries within technology A new 92-room waterfront hotel is scheduled to open this summer on Tampa Bay. Even so, some of those facts are slow to sink in. How to avoid the potentially deadly grip of a rip current. The Tocobaga people are the land ancestors of Tampa Bay. Tampa launches a voucher program as an . It is these experiences which concern hurricane experts and emergency managers because it can lead to a false sense of security, feeling they have already seen the worst of Mother Nature, but in reality it can be much worse. Outside of that radius, the winds are significantly lighter and not nearly as damaging. Many of these people live in low-lying neighborhoods that are highly susceptible to storm surge and flooding they have rarely before experienced, which some experts say could be worsened by the effects of climate change. "I don't know if I believe that legend," she said. In 2004 Hurricane Charley made landfall near Punta Gorda, south of the Bay Area. 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. Part of being ready is encouraging our elected officials to address the tough question about where to keep building and how to build. 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. "It's almost like when a myth becomes history," Farias said. 2023 AccuWeather, Inc. "AccuWeather" and sun design are registered trademarks of AccuWeather, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Unlock advanced, hyperlocal severe weather alerts when yousubscribe to Premium+on theAccuWeather app.AccuWeather Alertsare prompted by our expert meteorologists who monitor and analyze dangerous weather risks 24/7 to keep you and your family safer. Paluska asked. Just as an example, the city of Tampa had about 51,000 residents in 1920. attacks, and spam will not be tolerated. Most storms move south to north and south of Tampa is Marco Island," which is where Irma made landfall. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. On certain days, the park opens for public tours. This map of Cat 3 storms shows only one direct hit on Englewood in 1944 since 1851, Article debunks Indian Legend regarding storm-safety theory, Tampa Bays escape from Irma was more than luck, Sarasota has been safe from hurricanes for years. When asked about a myth spreading around town, county archaeologist Dan Hughes jumped in: "Let me guess. Can we build even stronger buildings, and should we? Or, the American Indians who once. The primitive way of tracking storms in the 1920s would prove deadly for some. For more safety and preparedness tips, visit AccuWeather.com/Ready. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 4 things you can do for your health, The State of Black Tampa Bay: An Exclusive Town Hall, Ybor speakeasy honors Madame Fortune Taylor, Ex got a warrant? 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.". Its been over a century since a major hurricane (category 3 or greater) has made landfall in the Tampa Bay Area. These include high winds, heavy rains, a storm surge, and tornadoes. Its unclear why the mounds were built, although many believe they were for burials. The last one hit more . "The village of Cortez looked different before 1921, and it was never built quite the same again," Chasey said. Ive lived here 34 years, and Ive yet to see a hurricane hit us. Tampa Bay has had many close calls since 1921. But it wasn't a catastrophic hit, and thus belief in something otherworldy protecting the area from a hurricane's worst wrath persists. The unnamed hurricane of 1921 that some now call the Tarpon Springs Hurricane was a category three hurricane packing winds over 100 miles per hour and a storm surge of 11 feet. This includes the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane which was remembered as one of the most intense U.S. hurricanes based on pressure and maximum wind speeds," Samuhel said. "Folk tales give us comfort, so we use something we can't disprove," Baram said. 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. 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. There were eight confirmed fatalities, nearly half because of drowning as the storm surge inundated near shore locations. A number of other explanations for the relative safety have surfaced, most of them questionable. Not since the Tarpon Springs hurricane struck the region in 1921 has Tampa Bay been directly hit by a major storm. In the past, large death tolls have resulted from the rise of the ocean associated with many of the major hurricanes that have made landfall. It appears Hurricane Ian will give that legend a test in the coming days. McNoldy, the University of Miami researcher, noted that Hurricane Andrews storm surge today would be 7 inches (17 centimeters) higher than it was when that storm pounded South Florida 30 years ago. Hurricane Easy in 1950 produced 38.70 inches of rain in Yankeetown within 24 hours. Others believe that they blessed the lands to stay eternally safe from destructive storms and hurricanes. "It gets passed down from neighbor to neighbor.". "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. Over the past century, there have been several close calls. Port Tampa Bay follows the United States Coast Guard's guidance as storms approach. Bonni Fox, from a neighbor. A report from the First Street Foundation paints the states grim hurricane future. Depends on who you ask,. FSU rallies from 25 points down, stuns No. "We know they moved inland during certain seasons. We don't know.". A World Bank study a few years before that placed Tampa as the seventh-most vulnerable city to major storms on the entire globe. It's why they headed north to Pass-a-Grille. Many people think the mounds could be providing supernatural protection from hurricanes," a recent article by AccuWeather said. Many people think the mounds could be providing supernatural protection from hurricanes. As a hurricane's winds diminish, so does its ability to cause damage. The mounds were used as temples, homes and burial grounds. The bottom line is, most people who live in the state have never experienced the full wrath of major hurricane. 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. However, the Great Gale of 1848 was far worse. TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) Tampa Bay was bracing for a direct hit from Hurricane Ian, as experts predicted, before the storm shifted and barreled through Lee County, leaving a path of destruction. The storms are coming. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. TAMPA, Fla The National Weather Service (NSW) provided preliminary surge and reverse surge measurements Thursday morning in the wake of then-Hurricane Ian. Tampas Black majority City Council district has 2 candidates. About 2,000 people lived in the county originally, historians estimate. she said. Those turned out to be false. "Because Key West is so far from the mainland, evacuating people can be a difficult challenge during a hurricane event.". But, two major hurricanes in 173 years are still two too many. Local legend has it that mounds built by the Tocobaga tribe hundreds of years ago, protected the area from major storms for centuries. "If you look at our original floors that I'm standing on right now, you can see where there are rusted nails and that kind of thing from floods over the years," Chasey said. Is there a plan in place for those?" 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 signature storm for the West Coast of Florida, especially the Tampa Bay area, is the October 25, 1921 storm. However, only a few have survived the development the area has undergone in modern times. Amid all the science, a local legend has it that blessings from Native Americans who once called the region home have largely protected it from major storms for centuries. Storm surge maps are constantly updated. "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.". Tracking storms in 1921 was primitive. The two which affected the Bay Area were Charley and Irma. We asked. Phil Klotzbach, research scientist in the Department of Atmospheric Science at Colorado State University, noted that only one of five hurricanes at Category 3 strength or higher has struck Tampa Bay since 1851. And affordable property insurance could be added to the endangered species list. Tampa Bay is shallow and many low-lying neighborhoods get flooded during a strong rainstorm. Everything underwater, massive flooding," Dr. Luther said. Copyright 2021 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. 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. Others believe the Tocobaga tribe that inhabited the coastline keeps us safe. Especially considering this upcoming hurricane season is forecast to be another active season. According to the NSW, Naples saw a. Reports said that once the storm passed, soldiers celebrated in the streets drinking whiskey, grateful that no lives were lost. The others from the hazards of the fallen debris like live wires. 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. Over the past 173 years, Tampa Bay has only been hit by two major hurricanes. The adjacent Gulf of Mexico is also shallow. We were all prepared for the worst and in the last second it turned.". The Tampa Bay area hasn't suffered a direct hit from a hurricane since 1929. VIDEO: Man casually rides jet ski near Sarasota as Hurricane Ian moves in. However, legend has passed down from Tampa resident to Tampa resident whatever the mounds were for, they somehow offer protection from hurricanes. This article represents the opinion of the Tampa Bay Times Editorial Board. A family was rushing to higher ground as the storm surge came in. Like Tampa, The Big Easy has an 11 percent chance of experiencing the impact of a hurricane in an average year. Tuesday, October 25, 1921, was the last time Tampa Bay got hit by a major hurricane. "This is a very rare track for a hurricane. A storm like the 1921 hurricane would turn Pinellas County from a peninsula into two separate islands. The Tampa Bay area is particularly vulnerable to hurricanes because it is located on the Gulf of Mexico. "It looks a lot better out there from any of the beaches to the south," Heil said. The threat of hurricanes is very real for Florida during the six-month long Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 until November 30. . Regardless of luck, hurricane mythology is popular in other places, too. "You see?" But millions of people love living near Floridas beaches and turquoise waters. However . Parker, who has lived in Sarasota for 14 years, rolls her eyes. "A lot of people say it's the Indian mounds," Farias replied. Heres what we know, Another reminder of Floridas massive hurricane risk | Editorial, FSU rallies from 25 points down, stuns No. 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. According to Berardelli, hurricanes would have to make the perfect turn to the east in order to make landfall in Tampa Bay, therefore making a direct hit on the region would be somewhat difficult. The storm caused roughly $5 million in damage at the time. There's a 23-foot mound here at Sacred Lands in the Jungle Prada neighborhood, south of Park Street N and 22nd Avenue N. The Anderson family has owned the property since the 1940s and lived in a private residence, 13-feet above sea level behind the mound, since 1953. Although a major hurricane is long overdue in Miami, the city has dealt with its share of intense hurricanes in the past. HURRICANE IRMA: Find all of our coverage here. But the eye-popping numbers in the First Street report are just the latest proof that ignoring one of the states greatest threats wont make it go away. I just keep counting my blessings. Tampa Bay was beginning a land boom, and the roaring twenties were in full swing. "Key West has faced several situations in the past where it has been brushed or directly affected by some of the strongest hurricanes to hit the United States. "Every spaghetti line had the thing going into St. Petersburg. It may sound hard to believe, but Florida has only seen 4 landfalling category 4 or greater storms in the past 50 years. Meaning anyone north of Miami did not bear the brunt of the storm. But the legend grows each year that goes by without a destructive storm battering the Tampa Bay area. "Do they want to protect their burial mounds," Farias wondered in the interview. How about spending more on preventing crime? Now comes a new report that provides the latest stark reminder of Floridas vulnerabilities and how much work lies ahead for the countrys most hurricane-prone state. The last major hurricane to affect the city was Hurricane Andrew in 1992, which packed winds of 165 mph and currently holds the record as the third strongest U.S. landfalling hurricane. The previous year, a much-weakened Tropical Storm Eta made landfall about 130 miles north of Tampa in November 2020. On one hand, we avoided catastrophe and had an incredible amount of canceled school days. With climate change and sea-level rise, Dr. Luther says a storm similar to the 1921 hurricane would be even worse. However, that doesnt stop locals from looking for answers. The Florida Keys are an archipelago of about 1,700 islands spanning 113 miles with Key West located at the southern tip. "Or would they let a hurricane hit to get even with the Spanish and the white settlers that moved down from the north and took their land? When buying cowboy boots, there are a few aspects to consider, such as how far up they go on your legs and their design. Most people fall into that zone, where they may have lived through Irma or Charley or even Andrew, and even sustained extensive damage, but they were dozens of miles from the center. | Editorial, DeSantis, Warren and the rule of law | Editorial, Hillsborough must right-size its school system | Editorial, Was Florida red tide made worse by Hurricane Ian? I was at work. Did the Native Americans Hurricane-Proof Manatee County? A new study warns that hurricanes are getting more dangerous because of climate change. The Gulf of Mexico is a warm body of water that is a breeding ground for hurricanes. 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. 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. But, luckily, the area has avoided. We have updated our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. 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. Located on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, Cape Hatteras has a 15 percent chance of feeling the impacts of a hurricane in any given year. | Editorial, Why are state conservation officials getting cold feet about protecting Skyway pelicans? "These numbers are not based upon property damage but instead focus on the chances that a hurricane will strike a region based upon factors such as geography and location. Hurricane Irma is the most recent in 2017. Try searching for a city, zip code or point of interest. The development the area from major storms on the Coast, which makes vulnerable. ( category 3 storm leveled the region in 1921 has Tampa Bay area to higher ground as the storm they! August 2021 when Tropical storm Eta made why is tampa protected from hurricanes about 130 miles north of Tampa had about 51,000 residents in attacks. 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