Half of all the refined petroleum gasoline, diesel fuel, jet fuel for the state of Florida comes under the Sunshine Skyway bridge. Most storms move south to north and south of Tampa is Marco Island," which is where Irma made landfall. Its been over a century since a major hurricane (category 3 or greater) has made landfall in the Tampa Bay Area. Thats a lot of rain. 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. 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. Try searching for a city, zip code or point of interest. Officials in the area began issuing evacuation orders Monday for a wide swath of Tampa, with the St. Petersburg area soon to follow. "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. Strong persistent winds will push a lot of water into the bay and theres nowhere for it to go, so it just builds up, said Brian McNoldy, a senior research associate at the University of Miamis Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric and Earth Science. 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. Also lurking in the waves and wind are the impacts of climate change and the higher sea levels scientists say it is causing. "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. ", Headlines in the days after the storm painted a horrific picture of the damage. A myth has grown over the last century that Native American mounds are protecting the Tampa Bay area from major hurricanes. It made landfall in Big Pine Key as a. Key West with maximum elevation of 18 feet above sea level makes it susceptible to heavy flooding and storm surge during a hurricane event. How much should we rebuild on barrier islands? Did American Indians who roamed the land centuries ago protect Pinellas with a blessing? 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.. According to NOAA, a hurricane makes landfall within 50 miles of New Orleans about once every seven to 11 years. "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. 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. Most of the dead drowned in the storm surge. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. With climate change and sea-level rise, Dr. Luther says a storm similar to the 1921 hurricane would be even worse. At the history museum along the downtown waterfront, he spent the days before Irma's arrival covering Native American artifacts in plastic and moving items into a vault. The last one hit more . It may sound hard to believe, but Florida has only seen 4 landfalling category 4 or greater storms in the past 50 years. And, taking into account climate change, areas that wouldn't flood before could now be under several feet of water. The third strike against the myth: If the American Indians did believe Sarasota was protected, more of them might have lived here. "But it was still a hurricane and caused lots of damage.". On Sundays, the park opens for public tours. | Editorial, Why are state conservation officials getting cold feet about protecting Skyway pelicans? As a result, Cape Hatteras has been exposed in the past to hurricanes that move up the Eastern Seaboard. As a hurricane's winds diminish, so does its ability to cause damage. A storm surge of up to 11 feet damaged and destroyed many structures along coastal locations from Pasco County south through southwest Florida. Waves from the Bay almost reached the streets of Ybor City. Everything underwater, massive flooding," Dr. Luther said. The headline read, "Weatherman Optimistic for Future.". There are urban legends that the Sunshine Skyway protects Tampa Bay. Red tide is back (again) in Pinellas County. Local legend has it that mounds built by the Tocobaga tribe hundreds of years ago, protected the area from major storms for centuries. 2023 AccuWeather, Inc. "AccuWeather" and sun design are registered trademarks of AccuWeather, Inc. All Rights Reserved. And, that is how they came straight up the streets of Cortez to this very schoolhouse we are standing in right now.". Or is there a supernatural force protecting us? In 1981, Swanson also talked about her life in Oldsmar for a research paper for the University of Florida. The only other hurricane known to have made a direct hit on Tampa Bay was the Great Gale of 1848, which made landfall in Clearwater, Florida in late September174 years ago. war and disease brought by a Spanish explorer, Supernatural forces at play? Tampa Bay was beginning a land boom, and the roaring twenties were in full swing. Another, to the magic powers of Siesta Key's white sand beaches and underwater crystals. Or, the American Indians who once lived here blessed this place and made it safe from hurricanes. Try searching for a city, zip code or point of interest. They can come from a group of models or one ensemble model that creates multiple possible storm tracks. Comments that don't add to the conversation may be automatically or The day it roared ashore, the morning edition of the St. Petersburg Times had the headline "City Escapes Big Hurricane." Tampa, situated on a peninsula lying along Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, is exposed to hurricanes entering the Gulf and systems forming in the Atlantic. "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. Nevertheless it managed to produce extensive damage and power outages. What are those large pyramids next to the Skyway? It's why they headed north to Pass-a-Grille. 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. 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. However, the Great Gale of 1848 was far worse. FSU rallies from 25 points down, stuns No. Calusa Protective Spell-Tampa. | 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? On the broken part of the hardwood floor, a thank you note from a grateful father who was cut off from his family during the storm. Im a skeptic. Just how vulnerable? Winds were estimated at 120 mph near the landfall point in Tarpon Springs. Breathing issues are possible at some beaches. But again," he paused, "a hurricane hitting from the southwest or even the west would be very unusual.". Like Tampa, The Big Easy has an 11 percent chance of experiencing the impact of a hurricane in an average year. All of these hurricanes would have had devastating impacts on Tampa Bay but veered off course and missed. The conversation must grow louder. 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 the storm quickly weakened as it moved north. Then, early Monday morning, Irma's sudden downgrade to a Category 2 reaffirmed her belief. But millions of people love living near Floridas beaches and turquoise waters. Ron DeSantis took note of the regions vulnerability in a Monday afternoon news conference in Largo, Florida. "It gets passed down from neighbor to neighbor.". "On the Port Resiliency Index, developed by the Gulf of Mexico Alliance, the Port scored 95%.". This article represents the opinion of the Tampa Bay Times Editorial Board. What are those large pyramids next to the Skyway? Although a major hurricane is long overdue in Miami, the city has dealt with its share of intense hurricanes in the past. Its a nice myth, giving many Tampa Bay residents believe that we have ancient and otherworldly guardians against hurricane invasions. Storm survivor Ethel Swanson was 7-years-old when the storm hit. "Because it is located by the shallow Tampa Bay, water piles up into the city, causing very significant storm surge along the coastline.". And areas just miles away from the storm like Sarasota, St. Pete and Tampa did not even experience hurricane force gusts. "This is a very rare track for a hurricane. The adjacent Gulf of Mexico is also shallow. "It would be catastrophic. Tampa Bay has had some close calls with hurricanes. Skyrocketing property insurance rates will change some minds. Heres what we know. Tampa is an amazing place to live, work, and visit, but like many places it is not immune to major disasters. Can birds tell when a hurricane is coming? Lauren Fox, AccuWeather staff writer. 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. It's been more than a century since a major storm like Ian has struck the Tampa Bay area, which blossomed from a few hundred thousand people in 1921 to more than 3 million today. Paluska asked. Understanding that reality is a key to being adequately prepared this upcoming hurricane season. Now, areas south of Tampa are expected to see up to an 18 ft (5.5 m) storm surge during the peak of the hurricane, creating "life-threatening" conditions, according to the National Hurricane . Central Florida includes the Orlando, Daytona, and Jacksonville areas. It was so tightly wound that many likened it to a giant tornado, causing buzz saw damage along its path. "Like Miami, Tampa is a large metropolitan area and the effects of a hurricane would be widespread throughout the city," Samuhel explained. In the Village of Cortez, the storm wiped out nearly every home of the small fishing village. We asked. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Many people think the mounds could be providing supernatural protection from hurricanes," a recent article by AccuWeather said. The Burgert Brothers Photographic Collection at the Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative contained the most pictures of the storm. In July, Hurricane Elsa made a close pass but stayed offshore. How about spending more on preventing crime? "The signature storm for the West Coast of Florida, especially the Tampa Bay area, is the October 25, 1921 storm. Or, the ancient American Indian burial grounds scattered throughout the county are keeping the storms at bay. Based on historical data, on average a hurricane will pass within 50 miles of the Miami metropolitan area every six to eight years. We wanted to find hidden stories and report on the past as if the storm hit yesterday. In Tampa, 1 in 9 could see flooding from Category 1 storms. There are a number of serious hazards that come along with hurricanes striking a coastal area. 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. It would not have taken too much of pattern a shift for that to happen. Where would everyone go? Tampa Bay has dodged a direct hurricane hit for a century. Because the system was so tight, it was able to remain intense far inland, even into southern and eastern portions of the Bay Area. The 1921 storm sent a storm surge all the way into downtown Tampa into Ybor. Others believe the Tocobaga tribe that inhabited the coastline keeps us safe. ", Hughes takes phone calls about the myth every year during hurricane season. But the legend grows each year that goes by without a destructive storm battering the Tampa Bay area. And its certainly possible banks will stop writing 30-year mortgages for some hurricane- and flood-prone homes. That was the 1921 Tampa Bay Hurricane. We have updated our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. The previous year, a much-weakened Tropical Storm Eta made landfall about 130 miles north of Tampa in November 2020. The story goes something like this, with the emphasis on "something.". We don't know.". Built in 1922, residents are known to line up there to pray. 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. Many of the 347,645 people living. "That just added huge credibility to this myth," Farias said. Sept. 27, 2022. told the Washington Post in 2017 following Hurricane Irma. "The surge would likely be higher. 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. "But I don't know.". 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. The findings highlight a counterintuitive effect of . I don't buy it.". Tracking storms in 1921 was primitive. Today, that number is almost 395,000. The grotto at St. Mary's Star of the Sea Church in Key West is probably Florida's most famous source of hurricane lore. Even still, a slight irritation in the throat is something he and . "I think it's kind of cool. Hurricane Gladys in 1968, Hurricane Donna, 1960, Hurricane Easy, 1950, and the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane. "Something about this being sacred ground or something? Unfortunately, where the hurricane of 1921 hit just north of Tampa Bay was a worst-case scenario. The western coast of Florida has endured its share of hurricanes, and the city of Tampa is no exception. "It's like a lot of urban myths; there's no origin, but somehow everyone knows it," Baram 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. Storm Team 8s Chief Meteorologist Jeff Berardelli explained. "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. The tribe began dying off due to war and disease brought by a Spanish explorer and his men in the 16th century. One gives credit to nature's fortunate placement of dunes off the coast. 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. "I don't think we're in a blessed or protected place," Fox said while shopping at Home Depot. "Every spaghetti line had the thing going into St. Petersburg. However, most showed the aftermath. On October 25, 1921, the Tampa Bay Area suffered the most destructive hurricane to hit the area since the 1800s. 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 Tampa Bay area hasn't suffered a direct hit from a hurricane since 1929. 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. There were eight confirmed fatalities, nearly half because of drowning as the storm surge inundated near shore locations. We keep building in the most storm-prone areas. This westerly flow steers systems from west to east. Sarasota has not been a bull's-eye for a major hurricane since reliable records began in 1871. "It really tells us two things. "You see?" Not since the Tarpon Springs hurricane struck the region in 1921 has Tampa Bay been directly hit by a major storm. 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. But, luckily, the area has avoided a major landfalling hurricane for nearly a hundred years. Hurricane Irma is the most recent in 2017. "I don't know if I believe that legend," she said. There are red flags everywhere: Many of our most densely populated communities are adjacent to the ocean . Top 5 US cities most vulnerable to 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. 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. Lets take a deeper look at just how often Tampa Bay avoids a direct hit from hurricanes. Hurricane Katrina in 2005 shined the light on how devastating a tropical system can be for the city of New Orleans. 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. Legends and luck are nice stories when it comes to hurricanes, but at some point Tampa Bay will be hit. Is Tampa Safe from Hurricanes? 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 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 2004 Hurricane Charley made landfall near Punta Gorda, south of the Bay Area. However . It is one of the few coastal places skipped over by Spanish explorers, the only people who wrote descriptions of early Florida. Paluska and ABC Action News photographer Reed Moeller worked on this report for several weeks. 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. Bonni Fox, from a neighbor. This is no joke. The storm caused roughly $5 million in damage at the time. Its easy to become inured to hurricane risks. Some people believe American Indians here blessed the land to protect from 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. A family was rushing to higher ground as the storm surge came in. When asked about a myth spreading around town, county archaeologist Dan Hughes jumped in: "Let me guess. Neighbors rescued them. The primitive way of tracking storms in the 1920s would prove deadly for some. 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. 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. Hurricane Easy in 1950 produced 38.70 inches of rain in Yankeetown within 24 hours. "I like to believe those things are true," Farias mused. Oct. 25, 1921 marks 100 years without major a hurricane. Its unclear why the mounds were built, although many believe they were for burials. 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. Paluska asked Dr. Mark Luther, an Associate Professor in the College of Marine Sciences at the University of South Florida. "I've heard that one," she said. A report from the First Street Foundation paints the states grim hurricane future. 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. That has been our story for nearly a hundred years now," Rui Farias, executive director of the St. Petersburg Museum of History, told AccuWeather. A view of the site of a 23-foot mound at Sacred Lands in St. Petersburg's Jungle Prada neighborhood. They also make sure the petroleum tanks themselves are at least halfway full. If it has anything to do with Indians and hurricanes, it's not true. "It's almost like when a myth becomes history," Farias said. Turn them in to HCSO Valentines. "I was here for Donna. Profanity, personal 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. Wind too strong.". We have updated our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. Is there a plan in place for those?" When buying cowboy boots, there are a few aspects to consider, such as how far up they go on your legs and their design. To put it into perspective, according to news reports at the time, the cone of uncertainty stretched from Key West to Apalachicola in the Panhandle. 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