"Cape Hatteras is very close to the Gulf Stream, which enables hurricanes to strengthen due to warmer ocean temperatures during the summer," Samuhel explained. Tuesday, October 25, 1921, was the last time Tampa Bay got hit by a major hurricane. Gov. Just as an example, the city of Tampa had about 51,000 residents in 1920. Follow @TBTimes_Opinion on Twitter for more opinion news. Half of all the refined petroleum gasoline, diesel fuel, jet fuel for the state of Florida comes under the Sunshine Skyway bridge. The western coast of Florida has endured its share of hurricanes, and the city of Tampa is no exception. "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. 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. During our research, we came across a heartbreaking story of survival, death, and devastating destruction. According to Tampa Historical, an interactive web exhibit created and maintained by students and faculty at the University of South Florida; the storm was dubbed the "Granddaddy" of all hurricanes: Fort Brooke was a small military outpost located in the heart of where modern-day downtown Tampa now sits. About 2,000 people lived in the county originally, historians estimate. A hundred years of good luck? "I do believe in the power of God.". Paluska and ABC Action News photographer Reed Moeller worked on this report for several weeks. A picture hangs in the museum showing boats outside the brick schoolhouse. The evacuations could affect 300,000 people or more in Hillsborough County alone. With satellites, cell phones, and advanced technology, we can track storms days, even weeks in advance. VIDEO: Man casually rides jet ski near Sarasota as Hurricane Ian moves in. "The surge would likely be higher. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. Tampa Bay didn't come out of the storm largely unscathed because of Native American rituals and a Caribbean land configuration that amounts to a blockade against hurricanes, scientists said.. . Or, the American Indians who once. "The Spaniards called them gentle giants and said they were. Along the coast, storm surge is often the greatest threat to life and property from a hurricane. Evidence to support the tale does not exist, however, according to everyone who studies either county history or American Indian beliefs. 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. Today, that number is almost 395,000. Part of that legend is the many mounds built by the Tocobagan tribe in what is now Pinellas County that some believe are meant as guardians against invaders, including hurricanes. Many believe it protects them from hurricanes, even though Hurricane Wilma blew through town just two years ago. "I did everything I could to protect their artifacts," Farias said before Irma came through, letting the Tampa Bay area off the hook by weakening to a storm with less-than-catastrophic winds. For a century, the Tampa Bay area in Florida has been largely void of any direct landfalling hurricane strikes -- and some locals believe the reason can be chalked up to a supernatural force. It may sound hard to believe, but Florida has only seen 4 landfalling category 4 or greater storms in the past 50 years. "In order for Tampa to get a direct landfall, the storm has to hit them from the southwest," Kottlowski said. Tampa is an amazing place to live, work, and visit, but like many places it is not immune to major disasters. Many people think the mounds could be providing supernatural protection from hurricanes. "There is. "That just added huge credibility to this myth," Farias said. These include high winds, heavy rains, a storm surge, and tornadoes. 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. Comments that don't add to the conversation may be automatically or "Given all the development across Pinellas County, Hillsborough County, the Tampa Bay area, the devastation would be catastrophic. 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. The tribe lived in small villages between what is now Safety Harbor and the Gandy area, from 900 to the 1500s, but died out from disease and violence from Spanish settlers in the 17th century, according to Pinellas Countys website. The area has seen a fair share of damaging winds and storm surge flooding from plenty of tropical storms. What are those large pyramids next to the Skyway? "The Port of Tampa would have lots of water in it. Central Florida includes the Orlando, Daytona, and Jacksonville areas. Some people believe American Indians here blessed the land to protect from hurricanes. On October 25, 1921, the Tampa Bay Area suffered the most destructive hurricane to hit the area since the 1800s. A storm surge of up to 11 feet damaged and destroyed many structures along coastal locations from Pasco County south through southwest Florida. Paluska asked. 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. "On the Port Resiliency Index, developed by the Gulf of Mexico Alliance, the Port scored 95%.". Hurricane Gladys in 1968, Hurricane Donna, 1960, Hurricane Easy, 1950, and the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane. And a twist. It's 11-foot storm surge flooded downtown Tampa and turned St. Petersburg into an. The central wastewater treatment plant, Howard Curren Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant, is in the middle of Port Tampa Bay. It appears Hurricane Ian will give that legend a test in the coming days. Since it seems to be working, many people still believe in the legend. "The signature storm for the West Coast of Florida, especially the Tampa Bay area, is the October 25, 1921 storm. Tampas Black majority City Council district has 2 candidates. Did local Indian mounds save Tampa Bay from Irma's worst, Records show the region has a stormy past, Sarasota,Florida's history with tropical systems, Interactive chart showing 74 Storms - 1930 - 2010 ( Error on map but good info ), Manasota Key Ignored By Media During Hurricane Irma, Worst Hurricanes to hit Florida in the Past Century, Links to local YouTube videos taken during Hurricane Irma, Irma Youtube Videos taken on Manasota Key, YouTube - Gulf to Bay After Irma - September 15, 2017, YouTube - The Beach at Gulf to Bay After Irma. Those turned out to be false. ", In the Tarpon Springs Leader, the newspaper rejoiced following the passing of the storm, "Sponge Boats Safe; No Greek Life Lost. "Spaghetti plots" are collections of potential forecast tracks for tropical stormsbased on slightly different possible weather conditions. Breathing issues are possible at some beaches. Parker, who has lived in Sarasota for 14 years, rolls her eyes. Tampa launches a voucher program as an . This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ", Ybor City Tampa Bay, Florida, on Jan. 19, 2019. ", On October 27, 1921, a report in the Tampa Daily Times predicted the 100-year streak of good luck that followed. "Large burial mounds remaining from Tocobaga civilization are still present today, with the oldest one located overlooking Old Tampa Bay. One, we are very worried about hurricanes. A report from the First Street Foundation paints the states grim hurricane future. 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. 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. 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. The previous year, a much-weakened Tropical Storm Eta made landfall about 130 miles north of Tampa in November 2020. Tampa Bay has dodged a direct hurricane hit for a century. As a result, Cape Hatteras has been exposed in the past to hurricanes that move up the Eastern Seaboard. Reports said that once the storm passed, soldiers celebrated in the streets drinking whiskey, grateful that no lives were lost. Tony DeAngelo , for instance, put up 51 points in 64 games with the club last season before they cut him loose. I have no idea. It's why they headed north to Pass-a-Grille. If it has anything to do with Indians and hurricanes, it's not true. In 1848, one-third of the famous mound was washed away by a hurricane. "I think it's kind of cool. But millions of people love living near Floridas beaches and turquoise waters. How much should we rebuild on barrier islands? The tribe began dying off due to war and disease brought by a Spanish explorer and his men in the 16th century. The grotto at St. Mary's Star of the Sea Church in Key West is probably Florida's most famous source of hurricane lore. Tampa Bay was beginning a land boom, and the roaring twenties were in full swing. Hurricane-force winds can destroy mobile homes and buildings. The City of Oldsmar posting the video on YouTube. As a hurricane's winds diminish, so does its ability to cause damage. And it could be bad. The Tocobaga people are the land ancestors of Tampa Bay. 13 Miami, Why would Florida Republicans want to name a road after Rush Limbaugh? But as seen below on this FEMA map, the swath of damage was very narrow. Andrews total damage cost was $26.5 billion as communities in the surrounding areas were severely affected due to its intense winds and high storm surge. He made these remarks during a sit down interview recently at the National Hurricane Conference in Orlando with News Channel 8 Chief Meteorologist and Climate Specialist Jeff Berardelli. The hurricane had no official name but is known locally as the Tarpon Springs storm, for the seaside town famed for its sponge-diving docks and Greek heritage where it came ashore. Some hold the belief that Sarasota is protected from hurricanes because the Native Americans who first settled there knew that it was safe from the elements. Historians pinpoint the very 'worst year' ever to be alive, Drone footage shows spectacular view of ghost town frozen in time, 'Once-in-a-lifetime' moment caught on video by kayaker. Why here? There is no found scientific reason hurricanes seem to avoid the area. ", Hughes takes phone calls about the myth every year during hurricane season. Maybe for garbage, maybe to bury their own, or maybe to protect themselves from an intruder another tribe, Spanish conquerors or a natural disaster like Hurricane Irma. Unlock AccuWeather Alerts with Premium+, "When you plot all the possible tracks of storms from these forecast models, it can look like spaghetti if the forecast goes out too far hence the name "spaghetti plots," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Jesse Ferrell said. But it wasn't a catastrophic hit, and thus belief in something otherworldy protecting the area from a hurricane's worst wrath persists. Thats all the more reason for people and places to get prepared. 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. "That's a lot of rain. Everything underwater, massive flooding," Dr. Luther said. A Pinellas resident for 45 years, she was waiting for Irma to make a turn like Hurricane Charley did in 2004. The area has seen a fair share of damaging winds and storm surge flooding from plenty of tropical storms. "I think the Indians would have known because they were so in tune with God and nature," he said. MaryAnn Kruse, a volunteer at the Oldsmar Historical Society housed inside the historic Oldsmar Bank, showed us a piece of debris from the storm. With determination, innovation, and ingenuity, Port Tampa Bay is rising to the challenge of a changing climate," Lisa Wolf-Chason, the Director of Communications for Port Tampa Bay, said. "You see?" That nearly league-minimum salary is exactly why the Lightning had to pay so much, and continues their trend of acquiring players with team control. Storm Team 8s Chief Meteorologist Jeff Berardelli explained. Local legend has it that mounds built by the Tocobaga tribe hundreds of years ago, protected the area from major storms for centuries. It was a formidable storm, but nowhere near as strong as it could have been. A new study warns that hurricanes are getting more dangerous because of climate change. "But I don't know.". "But it was still a hurricane and caused lots of damage.". 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. "Native Americans to this particular region are a little past the shadow of history.". 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. "This is a very rare track for a hurricane. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. manually removed by Facebook or AccuWeather. A report from the Boston-based catastrophe modeling firm Karen Clark and Co. concluded in 2015 that Tampa Bay is the most vulnerable place in the U.S. to storm surge flooding from a hurricane and stands to lose $175 billion in damage. How about spending more on preventing crime? The highest storm surge was in the downtown Tampa and Tarpon Springs areas. The last time Tampa Bay was hit by a major storm was Oct. 25, 1921. "I like to believe those things are true," Farias mused. Hurricane Gladys produced 100 mph winds in Clearwater. The 20 U.S. cities most in danger of getting smacked by a major hurricane in the next decades are all in Florida. Unfortunately, where the hurricane of 1921 hit just north of Tampa Bay was a worst-case scenario. The National Read Across America Day takes place every year on March 2, Geisels birthday. 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. On the western edge of St. Petersburg, Doris and Erik Anderson live on Sacred Lands. A family was rushing to higher ground as the storm surge came in. Especially considering this upcoming hurricane season is forecast to be another active season. 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. This map shows hurricanes that have passed with 100 miles of St. Petersburg, Florida since 1960. ", Headlines in the days after the storm painted a horrific picture of the damage. 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. Even so, some of those facts are slow to sink in. In addition to this, a majority of the population resides within 20 miles of the coastline increasing the risk of high property damage. 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. 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. 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. The Tampa Bay area hasn't suffered a direct hit from a hurricane since 1929. 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? 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. 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. In the Tampa Bay Area, only 2 of the above catastrophic hurricanes impacted the area Charley and Irma. Baram first heard the story at a dinner party several years ago. In 2021, over $100 billion was spent on the pet industry in the U.S. alone. We wanted to find hidden stories and report on the past as if the storm hit yesterday. Did the Native Americans Hurricane-Proof Manatee County? Sarasota has not been a bull's-eye for a major hurricane since reliable records began in 1871. Tampa is also located on the coast, which makes it vulnerable to the storm surge that can accompany a hurricane. If there is an extra high tide, 18-20 feet higher than normal tidal level. The bottom line is, most people who live in the state have never experienced the full wrath of major hurricane. Want next-level safety, ad-free? Even so, some of those facts are slow to sink in. A World Bank study a few years before that placed Tampa as the seventh-most vulnerable city to major storms on the entire globe. Not since the Tarpon Springs hurricane struck the region in 1921 has Tampa Bay been directly hit by a major storm. ", Miami & Fisher Island from 500 feet (Flickr Photo/Mohd Althani). We spent hours at the John F. Germany Public Library in downtown Tampa combing through newspapers on microfilm. Thats a lot of rain. 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. When buying cowboy boots, there are a few aspects to consider, such as how far up they go on your legs and their design. 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. "Miami has a large population density, and as a result, the effects of a major hurricane would be catastrophic to the city," AccuWeather Meteorologist David Samuhel said. The most prominent story has to do with American Indians. This is no joke. There are red flags everywhere: Many of our most densely populated communities are adjacent to the ocean or the gulf. "Folk tales give us comfort, so we use something we can't disprove," Baram said. 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. On October 25, 1921, the Tampa Bay Area suffered the most destructive hurricane to hit the area since the 1800s. 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. July 2, 2020, 10:58 AM. Ive lived here 34 years, and Ive yet to see a hurricane hit us. This causes the hurricane to become downgraded as it moves inland. A hundred years of good luck? war and disease brought by a Spanish explorer, Supernatural forces at play? 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. In July, Hurricane Elsa made a close pass but stayed offshore. One of the nation's largest fully excavated native burial grounds, at Historic Spanish Point in Osprey, offers few additional clues, only that people lived in the area as early as 3,000 B.C. 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. Or, the ancient American Indian burial grounds scattered throughout the county are keeping the storms at bay. 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. 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This piece of folklore came from my co-worker, who grew up in Tampa, Florida. This westerly flow steers systems from west to east. "How devastating would an impact from a hurricane similar to the 1921 storm be in today's time?" But the storm quickly weakened as it moved north. TAMPA, Fla. Tuesday, October 25, 1921, was the last time Tampa Bay got hit by a major hurricane. For Florida, the challenge is so massive as to seem intractable. "I've heard that one," she said. In a St. Petersburg Times article printed on October 27, 1921, the headline read "Tragic Death Attends Gale.". 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" "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. Meaning anyone north of Miami did not bear the brunt of the storm. 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. As sea level rises, the same storm surge will be able to flood more areas because the baseline upon which its happening is higher, McNoldy said. As time goes on, it comes true.. "Because Key West is so far from the mainland, evacuating people can be a difficult challenge during a hurricane event.". Hurricane Irma is the most recent in 2017. This is life-threatening storm surge.. We got a tour of the Pinellas County Emergency Operations Center. One of the problems is that gasoline and diesel fuel are lighter than water, so if the tanks are not completely full, it could float off its foundation. When asked about a myth spreading around town, county archaeologist Dan Hughes jumped in: "Let me guess. ", "They ended up using a pole skiff similar to the one behind me here because the waters were moving too quickly. Nevertheless, with more than 50 percent of the city living below sea level and the rapid sinking of marshy coastal land in southeastern Louisiana, New Orleans still remains highly vulnerable to storm surge during a major hurricane. Only a couple hundred-thousand people lived in the area. However, that hasnt prevented the scientific community from noticing this odd pattern. The NWS describes the hurricane as "the forgotten nightmare." 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. "I wasn't a believer before, but I am now," Farias said Tuesday as the sun shone over Tampa Bay. Officials in the area began issuing evacuation orders Monday for a wide swath of Tampa, with the St. Petersburg area soon to follow. "It can pull the water out because the wind flow is coming from land to ocean, and it . 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. Lauren Fox, AccuWeather staff writer. Tracking storms in 1921 was primitive. In 2004 Hurricane Charley made landfall near Punta Gorda, south of the Bay Area. Can birds tell when a hurricane is coming? "The storm did weaken to a Cat 1 while making its closest approach to the Tampa area," AccuWeather's Chief Hurricane Expert Dan Kottlowski said, referring to the storm's Category 1 strength, which had dropped considerably from its Category 5 intensity by that point. Another, to the magic powers of Siesta Key's white sand beaches and underwater crystals. The petroleum facilities would be out of business for days at a time. But, the note was clear, "my family would be drowned. Tampa Bay has had some close calls with hurricanes. 13 Miami, NCAA gives Miami 1-year probation for recruiting violation, Florida lawmaker suggests limiting electric vehicles during hurricane evacuations, Bucs players give team low marks for travel, treatment of families, Red-hot USF women close out home schedule with explosive offensive showing. "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. Calusa Protective Spell-Tampa. On Nov. 14, 1993, during Founder's Day she talked about her memories of the storm. 2023 AccuWeather, Inc. "AccuWeather" and sun design are registered trademarks of AccuWeather, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Or is there a supernatural force protecting us? But, luckily, the area has avoided a major landfalling hurricane for nearly a hundred years. "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. Also known as the Tarpon Springs hurricane, the Category 3 storm leveled the region with up to 115 mph winds. 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. Can we build even stronger buildings, and should we? The Tampa Bay History Center is built on top of the fort's infirmary. In this aerial image, the city of Tampa, Fla., is seen Monday, Sept. 26, 2022. "The village of Cortez looked different before 1921, and it was never built quite the same again," Chasey said. On YouTube technology, we came across a heartbreaking story of survival, death, devastating! A fair share of damaging winds and storm surge is often the greatest threat to life property... Year during hurricane season up using a pole skiff similar to the magic powers of Siesta 's... I 've heard that one, '' he said and said they were so tune. 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