"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. "I've had Realtors call and ask if it's true so they can advertise it," he said. The Tampa Bay History Center is built on top of the fort's infirmary. 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. Can we build even stronger buildings, and should we? "So there could be some scenarios where we do see, at least during the times of the highest storm surge, that there is a separation between the two areas of the county," Director of the Pinellas County EOC Cathie Perkins said. But many still believe the blessing protects us. 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. Those Tocobagan mounds can only hold back so many storms. 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. Is there a plan in place for those?" Tampa has been undergoing major infrastructure upgrades to protect the vulnerable city from flooding, but as Hurricane Ian barrels toward Florida's west coast, the project is still years from. It may sound hard to believe, but Florida has only seen 4 landfalling category 4 or greater storms in the past 50 years. "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. The tribe began dying off due to war and disease brought by a Spanish explorer and his men in the 16th century. 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. 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. The Florida Keys are an archipelago of about 1,700 islands spanning 113 miles with Key West located at the southern tip. But, two major hurricanes in 173 years are still two too many. 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. Charley was an extremely intense and compact category 4 hurricane. There were several reports that Key West was destroyed. Large winter storm to spread across Midwest, Northeast, Chicago bracing for travel-disrupting snow, Severe weather to strike more than a dozen US states, Alabama father charged after toddler dies in hot car, 5 things to know about the spring weather forecast in the US, Why these flights made unscheduled loops in the sky, Mark your calendars: March is filled with array of astronomy events, Unusually high levels of chemicals found at train site, say scientists. 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. It was so tightly wound that many likened it to a giant tornado, causing buzz saw damage along its path. "I wasn't a believer before, but I am now," Farias said Tuesday as the sun shone over Tampa Bay. Hurricane Ian could threaten all of that development. 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. Its easy to scream retreat! but most Florida residents live within 20 miles of the coast. The two which affected the Bay Area were Charley and Irma. Hurricane Katrina (2005) is a prime example of the damage and devastation that can be caused by surge. 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. The 20 U.S. cities most in danger of getting smacked by a major hurricane in the next decades are all in Florida. ", Headlines in the days after the storm painted a horrific picture of the damage. Was Florida red tide made worse by Hurricane Ian? Thats a lot of rain. 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. It's certainly possible some of the pipelines could be damaged.". Key West with maximum elevation of 18 feet above sea level makes it susceptible to heavy flooding and storm surge during a hurricane event. However, only a few have survived the development the area has undergone in modern times. There are a number of serious hazards that come along with hurricanes striking a coastal area. 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. Officials in the area began issuing evacuation orders Monday for a wide swath of Tampa, with the St. Petersburg area soon to follow. "The village of Cortez looked different before 1921, and it was never built quite the same again," Chasey said. 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. Tampa Skyline (Flickr Photo/Sonny Side Up!). But, the note was clear, "my family would be drowned. "But I don't know.". The headline read, "Weatherman Optimistic for Future.". They also make sure the petroleum tanks themselves are at least halfway full. Why them? Waves from the Bay almost reached the streets of Ybor City. It just never seems to happen, St. Petersburg resident Leonard McCue told the Washington Post in 2017 following Hurricane Irma. On Sundays, the park opens for public tours. "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. Comments that don't add to the conversation may be automatically or Then, early Monday morning, Irma's sudden downgrade to a Category 2 reaffirmed her belief. 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. "Native Americans to this particular region are a little past the shadow of history.". Evidence to support the tale does not exist, however, according to everyone who studies either county history or American Indian beliefs. A family was rushing to higher ground as the storm surge came in. Where would everyone go? 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. 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. However . "I've heard that one," she said. VIDEO: Man casually rides jet ski near Sarasota as Hurricane Ian moves in. Oct. 25, 1921 marks 100 years without major a hurricane. The last direct strike was in 1921. "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. Tony DeAngelo , for instance, put up 51 points in 64 games with the club last season before they cut him loose. The storms are coming. 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. The Gulf of Mexico is a warm body of water that is a breeding ground for hurricanes. Many people think the mounds could be providing supernatural protection from hurricanes. Now, the tourist-friendly region known for its sugar-sand beaches has grown by leaps and bounds, with homes and businesses along the water the ideal locations most of the time. There are two version of the Native American folklore: either the knowledge that Sarasota was a safe haven was passed through generations of Native peoples or their burials places provided the protection from hurricanes. Paluska asked Dr. Mark Luther, an Associate Professor in the College of Marine Sciences at the University of South Florida. The last direct strike was in 1921. And next week, forecasters are predicting yet another one within striking distance. ", Joel, however, is less skeptical. Breathing issues are possible at some beaches. In the Tampa Bay Area, only 2 of the above catastrophic hurricanes impacted the area Charley and Irma. In fact, historians have no idea which tribes even lived in Sarasota County. When buying cowboy boots, there are a few aspects to consider, such as how far up they go on your legs and their design. Because the system was so tight, it was able to remain intense far inland, even into southern and eastern portions of the Bay Area. This westerly flow steers systems from west to east. The area has seen a fair share of damaging winds and storm surge flooding from plenty of tropical storms. "We have plans in place to be able to get out and do that damage assessment right away to do that debris clearance," Perkins said. Key West, like Miami, has a 16 percent chance of being impacted by a hurricane during any Atlantic hurricane season. Officially the storm remained a major hurricane into Polk County, but was weakening as it moved northeast towards Orlando. attacks, and spam will not be tolerated. The analysis from the nonprofit First Street Foundation, released Monday and reported on by The Washington Post, also found that Florida will account for about $7 out of every $10 in hurricane damage. The highest storm surge was in the downtown Tampa and Tarpon Springs areas. 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. 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. And while the area has been hit by multiple damaging storms since then, Tampa Bay has somehow avoided the big one. 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 if the hurricane makes . Its almost like when a myth becomes history, Farias said. There were eight confirmed fatalities, nearly half because of drowning as the storm surge inundated near shore locations. "Technically speaking, Native Americans lived everywhere around the state," said Anne McCudden, executive director of the Seminole Tribe of Florida. Heres what we know, Another reminder of Floridas massive hurricane risk | Editorial, FSU rallies from 25 points down, stuns No. A view of the site of a 23-foot mound at Sacred Lands in St. Petersburg's Jungle Prada neighborhood. She stocked up on hurricane supplies and is planning to put shutters on her house. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. At least eight people died and damage was estimated at $5 million at the time. Only a couple hundred-thousand people lived in the area. (DroneBase via AP), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. "It really tells us two things. There are red flags everywhere: Many of our most densely populated communities are adjacent to the ocean . Large burial mounds remaining from Tocobaga civilization are still present today, with the oldest one located overlooking Old Tampa Bay. 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. Large winter storm to spread across Midwest, Northeast, Chicago bracing for travel-disrupting snow, Severe weather to strike more than a dozen US states, Alabama father charged after toddler dies in hot car, 5 things to know about the spring weather forecast in the US, Why these flights made unscheduled loops in the sky, Mark your calendars: March is filled with array of astronomy events, Unusually high levels of chemicals found at train site, say scientists. Or, the ancient American Indian burial grounds scattered throughout the county are keeping the storms at bay. "How devastating would an impact from a hurricane similar to the 1921 storm be in today's time?" 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 gap in knowledge is likely part of what keeps the myth in circulation, said Uzi Baram, associate professor of anthropology at New College in Sarasota. 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. Hurricane Irma hit Tampa Bay at a Category 1 storm when once forecasted as a Category 5. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. This piece of folklore came from my co-worker, who grew up in Tampa, Florida. Hurricanes are a fact of life in Florida. The central wastewater treatment plant, Howard Curren Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant, is in the middle of Port Tampa Bay. 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. Meaning anyone north of Miami did not bear the brunt of the storm. "Do they want to protect their burial mounds," Farias wondered in the interview. 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. In 1848, one-third of the famous mound was washed away by a hurricane. Follow @TBTimes_Opinion on Twitter for more opinion news. The most recent near-miss occurred in August 2021 when Tropical Storm Fred came within 195 miles of Tampa. Others believe that they blessed the lands to stay eternally safe from destructive storms and hurricanes. Did the Native Americans Hurricane-Proof Manatee County? Over the past 173 years, Tampa Bay has only been hit by two major hurricanes. If you use a windshield cover, you can at least forget about scrapping the ice off your windshield to save some time and hassle. Did American Indians who roamed the land centuries ago protect Pinellas with a blessing? "I don't think we're in a blessed or protected place," Fox said while shopping at Home Depot. The faded ink had several names at the top that were illegible. Just how vulnerable? "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. "It would be catastrophic. "Like Miami, Tampa is a large metropolitan area and the effects of a hurricane would be widespread throughout the city," Samuhel explained. "I was here for Donna. Others believe the Tocobaga tribe that inhabited the coastline keeps us safe. But, luckily, the area has avoided a major landfalling hurricane for nearly a hundred years. 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. Getting into the specifics would require more space than this editorial allows, but Hurricane Ian last year provided some solid examples of how stronger building codes and better planning can help protect homes and other buildings from wind and floods. Not able to get out. war and disease brought by a Spanish explorer, Supernatural forces at play? Try searching for a city, zip code or point of interest. 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. I don't buy it.". 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. "The signature storm for the West Coast of Florida, especially the Tampa Bay area, is the October 25, 1921 storm. "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. 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. Although the timeline is somewhat unclear, the tribe had been completely wiped out some time before 1800. "This is a very rare track for a hurricane. Its been over a century since a major hurricane (category 3 or greater) has made landfall in the Tampa Bay Area. 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. He says it's less of a blessing or a curse than it is about the science behind hurricanes. In the Village of Cortez, the storm wiped out nearly every home of the small fishing village. ", Ybor City Tampa Bay, Florida, on Jan. 19, 2019. After all, they are called barriers for a reason. 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. 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. "The land around New Orleans is sinking, which puts the city in more danger if another major hurricane strike.". ", On October 27, 1921, a report in the Tampa Daily Times predicted the 100-year streak of good luck that followed. TAMPA, Fla The National Weather Service (NSW) provided preliminary surge and reverse surge measurements Thursday morning in the wake of then-Hurricane Ian. *Those of us in school in Tampa remember it with dread and fondness. Parker, who has lived in Sarasota for 14 years, rolls her eyes. The problem confronting the region is that storms approaching from the south, as Hurricane Ian is on track to do, bulldoze huge volumes of water up into shallow Tampa Bay and are likely to inundate homes and businesses. In 2021, over $100 billion was spent on the pet industry in the U.S. alone. Another reminder of Floridas massive hurricane risk | Editorial. And it could be bad. "Could it be people from the past protecting the present?" Dad was out probably to his waist in the water pulling the boat by rope and had loaded in mom, and this two-month-old baby wrapped up in a quilt trying to protect him from the rain," Chasey said." Port Tampa Bay follows the United States Coast Guard's guidance as storms approach. "That'll be good," LaMarre said. A report from the First Street Foundation paints the states grim hurricane future. With the Atlantic Ocean to the east and a maximum elevation of 42 feet above sea level Miamis geography makes it highly vulnerable to hurricanes. However, legend has passed down from Tampa resident to Tampa resident whatever the mounds were for, they somehow offer protection from hurricanes. Still, the Hurricanes have used players like Gostisbehere effectively in years past. "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.". Eight people were killed when the storm hit the seaside town with 120 mph winds. "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 why they headed north to Pass-a-Grille. The City of Oldsmar posting the video on YouTube. In this aerial image, the city of Tampa, Fla., is seen Monday, Sept. 26, 2022. The Tampa Bay area hasn't suffered a direct hit from a hurricane since 1929. A myth has grown over the last century that Native American mounds are protecting the Tampa Bay area from major hurricanes. A storm like the 1921 hurricane would turn Pinellas County from a peninsula into two separate islands. 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. But the population was not unusually high. 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. "It gets passed down from neighbor to neighbor.". The grotto at St. Mary's Star of the Sea Church in Key West is probably Florida's most famous source of hurricane lore. Regardless of luck, hurricane mythology is popular in other places, too. When buying cowboy boots, there are a few aspects to consider, such as how far up they go on your legs and their design. 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. 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. It has been called Dr. Seuss Day because of this. One in 9 could see 3 feet or more of storm surge a level forecasters call deadly. One, we are very worried about hurricanes. And, taking into account climate change, areas that wouldn't flood before could now be under several feet of water. "Cape Hatteras is very close to the Gulf Stream, which enables hurricanes to strengthen due to warmer ocean temperatures during the summer," Samuhel explained. Heres what we know. Technically, Irma did make a direct hit on part of Tampa in 2017, though it was a bit of a glancing blow from a weakened hurricane. Thats not going to drain out quickly, said Cathie Perkins, emergency management director in Pinellas County, where St. Petersburg and Clearwater are located. 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.. These catastrophic storms were Hurricane Andrew in 1992, Hurricane Charley in 2004, Hurricane Irma in 2017 and Hurricane Michael in 2018. A storm surge of up to 11 feet damaged and destroyed many structures along coastal locations from Pasco County south through southwest Florida. 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. The story goes something like this, with the emphasis on "something.". In a St. Petersburg Times article printed on October 27, 1921, the headline read "Tragic Death Attends Gale.". Fox 13 reports that Tampa Bay residents are preparing for Hurricane Ian, a category 3 storm that could be catastrophic. . The day it roared ashore, the morning edition of the St. Petersburg Times had the headline "City Escapes Big Hurricane." Turn them in to HCSO Valentines, 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. "Something about this being sacred ground or something? Hours later, Tampa was under 11 feet of water. MaryAnn Kruse, a volunteer at the Oldsmar Historical Society housed inside the historic Oldsmar Bank, showed us a piece of debris from the storm. "But it was still a hurricane and caused lots of damage.". Ive lived here 34 years, and Ive yet to see a hurricane hit us. Its no wonder that actuaries get cross-eyed looking at Floridas property insurance risk. Passed down from neighbor to neighbor. ``, Florida, on Jan.,. Protecting the present? likened it to a giant tornado, causing buzz damage! All in Florida less of a 23-foot mound at Sacred Lands in St. Petersburg resident Leonard told. Damage. `` who studies either County history or American Indian burial grounds scattered throughout County! See 3 feet or more of storm surge was in the area began issuing orders. Grown over the past 50 years the next decades are all in Florida ) is a warm body water. Gets passed down from Tampa resident whatever the mounds were for, somehow! Is in the area has undergone in modern Times could make it for! Why they headed north to Pass-a-Grille `` How devastating would an impact from peninsula. Of Tampa, Fla., is seen Monday, Sept. 26, 2022 either County or! 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