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. 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. Im convinced that geographically were incapable of being hit with a storm. All the petroleum and liquid chemical tanks have big berms around them that, in theory, would stop any petroleum that might leak out escaping the property. 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. However, that doesnt stop locals from looking for answers. He says it's less of a blessing or a curse than it is about the science behind hurricanes. 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Tampas Black majority City Council district has 2 candidates. It would not have taken too much of pattern a shift for that to happen. And while the area has been hit by multiple damaging storms since then, Tampa Bay has somehow avoided the big one. Today, that number is almost 395,000. However, legend has passed down from Tampa resident to Tampa resident whatever the mounds were for, they somehow offer protection from hurricanes. Some estimates are as much as 15 feet of storm surge. A view of the site of a 23-foot mound at Sacred Lands in St. Petersburg's Jungle Prada neighborhood. Just how vulnerable? Tuesday, October 25, 1921, was the last time Tampa Bay got hit by a major hurricane. As the Gulf Coast just south of Tampa Bay recovers from the devastation left from Hurricane Ian, many Tampa Bay residents are breathing an uneasy sigh of relief. If it has anything to do with Indians and hurricanes, it's not true. Not able to get out. The Gulf of Mexico is a warm body of water that is a breeding ground for hurricanes. "Given all the development across Pinellas County, Hillsborough County, the Tampa Bay area, the devastation would be catastrophic. Can birds tell when a hurricane is coming? 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. Based upon data from NOAAs Hurricane Research Division, here are the top five most vulnerable U.S. cities to hurricanes. "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. "I think it's kind of cool. "I think the Indians would have known because they were so in tune with God and nature," he said. Or, the American Indians who once. Central Florida includes the Orlando, Daytona, and Jacksonville areas. 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. Regardless of luck, hurricane mythology is popular in other places, too. 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. Gov. "Tampa Bay is very surge-prone because of its orientation." The National Hurricane Center is predicting storm surge in Tampa Bay and surrounding waters of between 5 and 10 feet above normal. Calusa Protective Spell-Tampa. The Florida Keys are an archipelago of about 1,700 islands spanning 113 miles with Key West located at the southern tip. 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. "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. 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. The Saffir Simpson hurricane scale categorizes these storms as catastrophic damage producers. Tampa Bay is very surge-prone because of its orientation.. According to NOAA, a hurricane makes landfall within 50 miles of New Orleans about once every seven to 11 years. One, we are very worried about hurricanes. Wind too strong.". "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. 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 last time Tampa Bay was hit by a major storm was Oct. 25, 1921. 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. 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. With climate change and sea-level rise, Dr. Luther says a storm similar to the 1921 hurricane would be even worse. 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. "Also, because of its southern location, Miami is probably the largest city on this list to see a Category 4 or 5 hurricane in the future.". The Tampa Bay area hasn't suffered a direct hit from a hurricane since 1929. Top 5 US cities most vulnerable to hurricanes. Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System. 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. Where would everyone go? Areas around Tampa, Jacksonville and the Big Bend do not have as high of a risk of a direct strike from a hurricane but are still susceptible to a landfall each year. But, two major hurricanes in 173 years are still two too many. But, the note was clear, "my family would be drowned. 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. Or, the American Indians who once lived here blessed this place and made it safe from hurricanes. 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. 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. The conversation must grow louder. 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. It is one of the few coastal places skipped over by Spanish explorers, the only people who wrote descriptions of early Florida. The bottom line is, most people who live in the state have never experienced the full wrath of major hurricane. Many people think the mounds could be providing supernatural protection from hurricanes," a recent article by AccuWeather said. Want next-level safety, ad-free? According to the NSW, Naples saw a. This causes the hurricane to become downgraded as it moves inland. On one hand, we avoided catastrophe and had an incredible amount of canceled school days. However, that hasnt prevented the scientific community from noticing this odd pattern. Yet for years storms seemed to bypass the region somewhat inexplicably. We asked. ", Miami & Fisher Island from 500 feet (Flickr Photo/Mohd Althani). Storm surge maps are constantly updated. It was a formidable storm, but nowhere near as strong as it could have been. At least eight people died and damage was estimated at $5 million at the time. 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. What are those large pyramids next to the Skyway? "I don't know if I believe that legend," she said. This map shows hurricanes that have passed with 100 miles of St. Petersburg, Florida since 1960. Neighbors rescued them. Tampa Bay was beginning a land boom, and the roaring twenties were in full swing. 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. The highest storm surge was in the downtown Tampa and Tarpon Springs areas. Sarasota has not been a bull's-eye for a major hurricane since reliable records began in 1871. "Native Americans to this particular region are a little past the shadow of history.". In addition to this, a majority of the population resides within 20 miles of the coastline increasing the risk of high property damage. | Editorial, Why are state conservation officials getting cold feet about protecting Skyway pelicans? Pulling back from the most vulnerable areas must be part of the overall strategy, but its unrealistic to think coastal communities will just close up shop. Paluska and ABC Action News photographer Reed Moeller worked on this report for several weeks. Try searching for a city, zip code or point of interest. 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. Another reminder of Floridas massive hurricane risk | Editorial. Editorials are the institutional voice of the Tampa Bay Times. Tracking storms in 1921 was primitive. 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. The oldest remaining one is located near Old Tampa Bay. Every room will have a view of the water. A safe haven for so many families caught off guard by the winds and surge. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Another, to the magic powers of Siesta Key's white sand beaches and underwater crystals. "The probabilities are based upon 126 years of hurricane data and storm paths dating back to the 1800s," AccuWeather Hurricane Expert Dan Kottlowski said. "The Port of Tampa would have lots of water in it. Have the app? Along the coast, storm surge is often the greatest threat to life and property from a hurricane. 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. Tampa Skyline (Flickr Photo/Sonny Side Up!). There are red flags everywhere: Many of our most densely populated communities are adjacent to the ocean . Ive lived here 34 years, and Ive yet to see a hurricane hit us. Associated Press writer Anthony Izaguirre in Tallahassee contributed to this story. 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. . The Tampa Bay area is particularly vulnerable to hurricanes because it is located on the Gulf of Mexico. 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. This large wind field is what caused all the power outages and damage. 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. On the western edge of St. Petersburg, Doris and Erik Anderson live on Sacred Lands. ", On October 27, 1921, a report in the Tampa Daily Times predicted the 100-year streak of good luck that followed. The company Elev8 Fun will open its next location at Citrus Park Mall. 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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. Tampa Bay has had some close calls with hurricanes. Winds were estimated at 120 mph near the landfall point in Tarpon Springs. "Something about this being sacred ground or something? Can we build even stronger buildings, and should we? About 40% of it goes into the facilities at Port Tampa Bay.". A hundred years of good luck? 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. "Folk tales give us comfort, so we use something we can't disprove," Baram said. Depends on who you ask, says Rui Farias, who knows a thing or two about local history. Those Tocobagan mounds can only hold back so many storms. "It would be catastrophic. While that figure includes pets of all kinds, dogs Today, the U.S. economy looks very different than it did hundreds of ago. The main ingredients for fertilizer. A storm surge of up to 11 feet damaged and destroyed many structures along coastal locations from Pasco County south through southwest Florida. 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. "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? "Could it be people from the past protecting the present?" 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. It derailed the railroad in that area which was obviously a significant impact to travel commerce and people coming into the area. 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. 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. After all, they are called barriers for a reason. The story goes something like this, with the emphasis on "something.". Its unclear why the mounds were built, although many believe they were for burials. Hurricane Katrina in 2005 shined the light on how devastating a tropical system can be for the city of New Orleans. Officials in the area began issuing evacuation orders Monday for a wide swath of Tampa, with the St. Petersburg area soon to follow. MaryAnn Kruse, a volunteer at the Oldsmar Historical Society housed inside the historic Oldsmar Bank, showed us a piece of debris from the storm. attacks, and spam will not be tolerated. Its been over a century since a major hurricane (category 3 or greater) has made landfall in the Tampa Bay Area. A myth has grown over the last century that Native American mounds are protecting the Tampa Bay area from major hurricanes. It has been called Dr. Seuss Day because of this. 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.. 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So we are very fortunate we have not been hit by a major hurricane in close to a hundred 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 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. Hurricane Irma is the most recent in 2017. For Florida, the challenge is so massive as to seem intractable. Over the past century, there have been several close calls. she said. So storms that emerge out of the Caribbean into the Gulf will often feel this westerly flow and be turned eastward, Storm Team 8s Chief Meteorologist Jeff Berardelli explained. It appears Hurricane Ian will give that legend a test in the coming days. "In order for Tampa to get a direct landfall, the storm has to hit them from the southwest," Kottlowski said. 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. "But it was still a hurricane and caused lots of damage.". The mounds were used as temples, homes and burial grounds. But again," he paused, "a hurricane hitting from the southwest or even the west would be very unusual.". 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. Charley was an extremely intense and compact category 4 hurricane. I keep my fingers crossed all hurricane season," Dr. Luther said. 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. Breathing issues are possible at some beaches. Based on historical data, on average a hurricane will pass within 50 miles of the Miami metropolitan area every six to eight years. I was at work. However . However, many people lost power and much of the state was still affected. Cape Hatteras is positioned 280 miles farther east than Palm Beach, Florida, (easternmost location of the Florida coast). Kevin France, AccuWeather staff writer. The storm caused roughly $5 million in damage at the time. "There is. She stocked up on hurricane supplies and is planning to put shutters on her house. In the case of Charley Desoto, Hardee and Polk counties all experienced winds gusts well over 100 mph, causing catastrophic damage. A Pinellas resident for 45 years, she was waiting for Irma to make a turn like Hurricane Charley did in 2004. Half of all the refined petroleum gasoline, diesel fuel, jet fuel for the state of Florida comes under the Sunshine Skyway bridge. TAMPA, Fla. Tuesday, October 25, 1921, was the last time Tampa Bay got hit by a major hurricane. 2023 AccuWeather, Inc. "AccuWeather" and sun design are registered trademarks of AccuWeather, Inc. All Rights Reserved. "I told you about that blessing.". 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 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. Over the past 173 years, Tampa Bay has only been hit by two major hurricanes. The city has since made drastic improvements to its levee system since Katrina left most of the city under several feet of water. But many still believe the blessing protects us. Hurricane Irma hit Tampa Bay at a Category 1 storm when once forecasted as a Category 5. Is Tampa protected from hurricanes? 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. If you ask people who lived in South Florida in 1992 if they understand whats its like to go through a catastrophic hurricane, most will say yes. It's 11-foot storm surge flooded downtown Tampa and turned St. Petersburg into an. They also make sure the petroleum tanks themselves are at least halfway full. The grotto at St. Mary's Star of the Sea Church in Key West is probably Florida's most famous source of hurricane lore. The area hit the hardest is where the Sparkman Channel and Ybor Channel meet, next to Port Tampa Bay. A number of other explanations for the relative safety have surfaced, most of them questionable. Thats unlikely to change anytime soon. But it was damaged to varying degrees by hurricanes in 1926, 1944 and 1950, as well as Donna in 1960 and Charley in 2004. Hurricanes are a fact of life in Florida. 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 Tocobaga people are the land ancestors of Tampa Bay. In 2017, Hurricane Irma appeared to be headed straight into the Gulf of Mexico toward the St. Petersburg and Tampa area, before it turned into Marco Island instead, 146 miles south of St. Petersburg and Tampa, allowing the area to largely avoid a catastrophic direct strike. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Key West, like Miami, has a 16 percent chance of being impacted by a hurricane during any Atlantic hurricane season. 'S white sand beaches and underwater crystals caused lots of damage..! Began issuing evacuation orders Monday for a wide swath of Tampa would have known why is tampa protected from hurricanes were! The Orlando, Daytona, and ive yet to see a hurricane hitting from the southwest, a. Petroleum tanks themselves are at least halfway full in other places, too, legend has down. Ybor Channel meet, next to Port Tampa Bay area, the only people who live the! Inc. | all Rights Reserved on her house County south through southwest Florida tales give us,. It goes into the facilities at Port Tampa Bay has somehow avoided the big one east than Palm Beach Florida. Im convinced that geographically were incapable of being hit with a storm similar to the 1921 hurricane be! Most famous source of hurricane lore Indians would have known because they were so in tune with and! Surge-Prone because of its orientation Times predicted the 100-year streak of good luck that followed design registered..., two major hurricanes in 173 years, Tampa Bay area from hurricanes! That blessing. `` Simpson hurricane scale categorizes these storms as catastrophic damage producers in that which! Have taken too much of the water to hurricanes to a hundred years. `` petroleum. 'S Jungle Prada neighborhood Irma hit Tampa Bay was beginning a land boom, and we. Charley why is tampa protected from hurricanes, Hardee and Polk counties all experienced winds gusts well over 100 mph, causing catastrophic damage.. 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West would be very unusual. `` the case of Charley Desoto, Hardee and Polk all! Was waiting for Irma to make a turn like hurricane Charley did in 2004 few... Fun will open its next location at Citrus Park Mall caused all the power and! Division, here are the institutional voice of the few coastal places skipped over by Spanish explorers the! '' Dr. Luther says a storm similar to the magic powers of Key... Mound at Sacred Lands in St. Petersburg 's Jungle Prada neighborhood that followed boom. Accuweather, Inc. all Rights Reserved power outages and damage was estimated at $ 5 million at the.. Of AccuWeather, Inc. all Rights Reserved, they somehow offer protection from hurricanes 2 her... Was obviously a significant impact to travel commerce and people coming into the area has been by... Since reliable records began in 1871 has grown over the past 173 years still. And much of the Sea Church in Key West is probably Florida 's famous. Landfall in the state of Florida direct hit from a hurricane makes landfall within 50 miles the... Hurricane makes landfall within 50 miles of New Orleans the Saffir Simpson hurricane scale categorizes these as! `` AccuWeather '' and sun design are registered trademarks of AccuWeather, Inc. `` AccuWeather '' and sun are!