Hurricane-force winds can destroy mobile homes and buildings. "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. The storms are 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. SARASOTA COUNTY -- Marcus Joel heard it from a co-worker. 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 bottom line is, most people who live in the state have never experienced the full wrath of major hurricane. Over the past century, there have been several close calls. 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. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. "I don't know if I believe that legend," she said. According to Berardelli, hurricanes would have to make the perfect turn to the east in order to make landfall in Tampa Bay, therefore making a direct hit on the region would be somewhat difficult. "I told you about that blessing.". Try searching for a city, zip code or point of interest. A World Bank study a few years before that placed Tampa as the seventh-most vulnerable city to major storms on the entire globe. While many people who have lived in Florida for a while believe they have experienced a truly catastrophic hurricane, few have. These include high winds, heavy rains, a storm surge, and tornadoes. 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. Thats unlikely to change anytime soon. We keep building in the most storm-prone areas. Sarasota has not been a bull's-eye for a major hurricane since reliable records began in 1871. Hurricane Ian could threaten all of that development. Why them? "I feel like being here," Anderson said. Bonni Fox, from a neighbor. Others believe the Tocobaga tribe that inhabited the coastline keeps us safe. The last one hit more . "That just added huge credibility to this myth," Farias said. This is life-threatening storm surge.. Reports said that once the storm passed, soldiers celebrated in the streets drinking whiskey, grateful that no lives were lost. Those Tocobagan mounds can only hold back so many storms. 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. Now comes a new report that provides the latest stark reminder of Floridas vulnerabilities and how much work lies ahead for the countrys most hurricane-prone state. "The signature storm for the West Coast of Florida, especially the Tampa Bay area, is the October 25, 1921 storm. ", Joel, however, is less skeptical. A safe haven for so many families caught off guard by the winds and surge. "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. 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. 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. "It gets passed down from neighbor to neighbor.". This map shows hurricanes that have passed with 100 miles of St. Petersburg, Florida since 1960. 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. Can birds tell when a hurricane is coming? "Native Americans to this particular region are a little past the shadow of history.". More than 40% of St. Petersburg is in the coastal high-hazard area. Thats all the more reason for people and places to get prepared. Why here? On October 25, 1921, the Tampa Bay Area suffered the most destructive hurricane to hit the area since the 1800s. 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 previous year, a much-weakened Tropical Storm Eta made landfall about 130 miles north of Tampa in November 2020. The primitive way of tracking storms in the 1920s would prove deadly for some. 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? In addition to this, a majority of the population resides within 20 miles of the coastline increasing the risk of high property damage. However, many people lost power and much of the state was still affected. In general, cyclones moving over the Gulf of Mexico had a tendency of passing well north of Tampa, the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration said in report on the 1921 storm. 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. Many believe it protects them from hurricanes, even though Hurricane Wilma blew through town just two years ago. 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 Florida Keys are an archipelago of about 1,700 islands spanning 113 miles with Key West located at the southern tip. "It's like a lot of urban myths; there's no origin, but somehow everyone knows it," Baram said. 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. We wanted to find hidden stories and report on the past as if the storm hit yesterday. The two which affected the Bay Area were Charley and Irma. Hurricane Katrina in 2005 shined the light on how devastating a tropical system can be for the city of New Orleans. Evidence to support the tale does not exist, however, according to everyone who studies either county history or American Indian beliefs. The conversation must grow louder. The third strike against the myth: If the American Indians did believe Sarasota was protected, more of them might have lived here. 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. "That's a lot of rain. 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. That's not going to drain out quickly," said Cathie Perkins . "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. The Tampa Bay area is particularly vulnerable to hurricanes because it is located on the Gulf of Mexico. Hundreds of years before them, so did the Tocobagan tribe, which built mounds along the Pinellas peninsula. But the population was not unusually high. Key West with maximum elevation of 18 feet above sea level makes it susceptible to heavy flooding and storm surge during a hurricane event. Its a nice myth, giving many Tampa Bay residents believe that we have ancient and otherworldly guardians against hurricane invasions. 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. 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. Regardless of luck, hurricane mythology is popular in other places, too. "But it was still a hurricane and caused lots of damage.". If there is an extra high tide, 18-20 feet higher than normal tidal level. Many people think the mounds could be providing supernatural protection from hurricanes," a recent article by AccuWeather said. CareerSource Pinellas and St. Pete College to Host Engineering Career Fair, Miami Is the Most Popular Metro For Relocators in 2023, William Stanley Firm Offers CFO Services to Smaller Businesses, Hillsborough Habitat for Humanity Unveils 12 New Affordable Homes, Training Participation Key to Retaining Older Workers, Nesting shorebirds Take to Gravel Rooftops for Peace and Safety, USF Students Reduce Mental Health Stigma Through This Is My Brave, Fiesta Day Celebrates Ybors Immigrant Culture, Mapped: The Price of Starbucks Coffee, by Country, St. Pete Community Evaluates CALLCommunity Assistance and Life Liaison Program, AI Experts Say Many Chores Will Be Automated by 2033. "The land around New Orleans is sinking, which puts the city in more danger if another major hurricane strike.". We asked. The others from the hazards of the fallen debris like live wires. There were several reports that Key West was destroyed. told the Washington Post in 2017 following Hurricane Irma. 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. While that figure includes pets of all kinds, dogs Today, the U.S. economy looks very different than it did hundreds of ago. This large wind field is what caused all the power outages and damage. By 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. "Spaghetti plots" are collections of potential forecast tracks for tropical stormsbased on slightly different possible weather conditions. Not since the Tarpon Springs hurricane struck the region in 1921 has Tampa Bay been directly hit by a major storm. The Burgert Brothers Photographic Collection at the Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative contained the most pictures of the storm. 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. 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. "It can pull the water out because the wind flow is coming from land to ocean, and it . 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. In 1981, Swanson also talked about her life in Oldsmar for a research paper for the University of Florida. Hurricanes are a fact of life in Florida. Profanity, personal The area has seen a fair share of damaging winds and storm surge flooding from plenty of tropical storms. There are red flags everywhere: Many of our most densely populated communities are adjacent to the ocean or the gulf. 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. Ben Gamel has a familiar feeling in joining Rays, Rays get quick feel for new rules in exhibition opener, Bastille concert Monday in St. Petersburg canceled due to Hurricane Irma. Although West Florida has been fortunate, proper hurricane protection for homes and businesses is still essential. Comments that don't add to the conversation may be automatically or She stocked up on hurricane supplies and is planning to put shutters on her house. But the storm quickly weakened as it moved north. 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. Officially the storm remained a major hurricane into Polk County, but was weakening as it moved northeast towards Orlando. "I don't think we're in a blessed or protected place," Fox said while shopping at Home Depot. Paluska asked. attacks, and spam will not be tolerated. I don't buy it.". Where would everyone go? Fox 13 reports that Tampa Bay residents are preparing for Hurricane Ian, a category 3 storm that could be catastrophic. "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.". The last direct strike was in 1921. The findings highlight a counterintuitive effect of . The likelihood of storms making a direct hit on the Gulf Coast increases in September and even more in October, during the second half of the hurricane season, when cooler air moves south, and jet-stream winds, which blow around the Earth from east to west, take storm systems with them. It would not have taken too much of pattern a shift for that to happen. In fact, historians have no idea which tribes even lived in Sarasota County. Try searching for a city, zip code or point of interest. Many of the 347,645 people living in the area have homes along the coast, making residents susceptible to storm surge. 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. It's a connection she believes is the reason why Tampa Bay hasn't seen a direct Hurricane hit since 1989. "How devastating would an impact from a hurricane similar to the 1921 storm be in today's time?" Tampa Bay has had some close calls with hurricanes. Im convinced that geographically were incapable of being hit with a storm. "I think the Indians would have known because they were so in tune with God and nature," he said. But it wasn't a catastrophic hit, and thus belief in something otherworldy protecting the area from a hurricane's worst wrath persists. 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. Is there a plan in place for those?" 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 . The Tampa Bay area hasn't suffered a direct hit from a hurricane since 1929. In July, Hurricane Elsa made a close pass but stayed offshore. "I've heard that one," she said. Heres what we know. "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. When buying cowboy boots, there are a few aspects to consider, such as how far up they go on your legs and their design. Depends on who you ask, says Rui Farias, who knows a thing or two about local history. And, taking into account climate change, areas that wouldn't flood before could now be under several feet of water. And next week, forecasters are predicting yet another one within striking distance. Not since the Tarpon Springs hurricane struck the region in 1921 has Tampa Bay been directly hit by a major storm. In a St. Petersburg Times article printed on October 27, 1921, the headline read "Tragic Death Attends Gale.". 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. "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. There were eight confirmed fatalities, nearly half because of drowning as the storm surge inundated near shore locations. If it has anything to do with Indians and hurricanes, it's not true. Paluska and ABC Action News photographer Reed Moeller worked on this report for several weeks. Hurricane Gladys produced 100 mph winds in Clearwater. Half of all the refined petroleum gasoline, diesel fuel, jet fuel for the state of Florida comes under the Sunshine Skyway bridge. We have updated our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. Tocobagan Indian Mounds have been found in Safety Harbor and near the Gandy. But the legend grows each year that goes by without a destructive storm battering the Tampa Bay area. Streetcar in New Orleans (Flickr Photo/faungg's photos). A number of other explanations for the relative safety have surfaced, most of them questionable. We were all prepared for the worst and in the last second it turned.". Tampa is an amazing place to live, work, and visit, but like many places it is not immune to major disasters. When buying cowboy boots, there are a few aspects to consider, such as how far up they go on your legs and their design. About 2,000 people lived in the county originally, historians estimate. This is vividly illustrated below in category 5 Hurricane Andrew, in which the most intense winds were confined to the eyewall near Homestead, Kendall and Coral Gables, a fair distance south of Miami and very far south of Ft Lauderdale. 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. "I think it's kind of cool. 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. For centuries, the Tocobaga tribe inhabited the coastline of Tampa Bay, surviving on a diet consisting mostly of fish and shellfish. A Pinellas resident for 45 years, she was waiting for Irma to make a turn like Hurricane Charley did in 2004. 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. 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. Especially considering this upcoming hurricane season is forecast to be another active season. Another reminder of Floridas massive hurricane risk | Editorial. 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. The most obvious reason weve avoided major hurricane problems sheer dumb luck. ", Ybor City Tampa Bay, Florida, on Jan. 19, 2019. 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. In 1848, one-third of the famous mound was washed away by a hurricane. And areas just miles away from the storm like Sarasota, St. Pete and Tampa did not even experience hurricane force gusts. 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. Breathing issues are possible at some beaches. 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. "So, by definition, the eastern half of Tampa experienced a direct hit," he said, adding, "St. Petersburg did not take a direct hit, but suffered power outages and wind damage.". Located on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, Cape Hatteras has a 15 percent chance of feeling the impacts of a hurricane in any given year. However, legend has passed down from Tampa resident to Tampa resident whatever the mounds were for, they somehow offer protection from hurricanes. manually removed by Facebook or AccuWeather. "Like Miami, Tampa is a large metropolitan area and the effects of a hurricane would be widespread throughout the city," Samuhel explained. Even if the hurricane makes . We don't know.". "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. It made landfall in Big Pine Key as a category 4, causing devastating damage. And while the area has been hit by multiple damaging storms since then, Tampa Bay has somehow avoided the big one. Cape Hatteras is positioned 280 miles farther east than Palm Beach, Florida, (easternmost location of the Florida coast). With the Atlantic Ocean to the south and east and the Gulf of Mexico to the north and west, the coastal town is exposed to all sides to passing hurricanes. In the case of Charley Desoto, Hardee and Polk counties all experienced winds gusts well over 100 mph, causing catastrophic damage. Ron DeSantis took note of the regions vulnerability in a Monday afternoon news conference in Largo, Florida. Heres what we know, Another reminder of Floridas massive hurricane risk | Editorial, FSU rallies from 25 points down, stuns No. "The Tampa International Airport is 25 miles [from where Irma's center was] but the eastern part of the city extends well over 20 miles to the east," Kottlowski explained. Is Tampa Safe from Hurricanes? Neighbors rescued them. TAMPA, Fla. With so many near-misses over the decades, it had become common to believe Florida's Tampa Bay region was somehow protected from hurricanes. 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. Tampa Bay has dodged a direct hurricane hit for a century It's one of the most populated areas on Florida's Gulf Coast, but hasn't had a direct hit from a landfalling hurricane in 100 years.. Some photos were taken during the event. 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. On Nov. 14, 1993, during Founder's Day she talked about her memories of the storm. And as we know by Floridas ever-growing population, people arent moving away from the risk. The storm caused at least eight fatalities and mass destruction to the area. Tampa is also located on the coast, which makes it vulnerable to the storm surge that can accompany a hurricane. A hundred years of good luck? Most of the dead drowned in the storm surge. There are urban legends that the Sunshine Skyway protects Tampa Bay. It's 11-foot storm surge flooded downtown Tampa and turned St. Petersburg into an. Although a major hurricane is long overdue in Miami, the city has dealt with its share of intense hurricanes in the past. "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. 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. 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. The grotto at St. Mary's Star of the Sea Church in Key West is probably Florida's most famous source of hurricane lore. Is Tampa protected from hurricanes? 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. Then, early Monday morning, Irma's sudden downgrade to a Category 2 reaffirmed her belief. 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. Tampa Bay has had many close calls since 1921. By For Florida, the challenge is so massive as to seem intractable. With climate change and sea-level rise, Dr. Luther says a storm similar to the 1921 hurricane would be even worse. And its certainly possible banks will stop writing 30-year mortgages for some hurricane- and flood-prone homes. In Tampa, 1 in 9 could see flooding from Category 1 storms. For more safety and preparedness tips, visit AccuWeather.com/Ready. Its been over a century since a major hurricane (category 3 or greater) has made landfall in the Tampa Bay Area. 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. Hurricane Irma is the most recent in 2017. 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. We havent done enough to fortify coastal areas against sea-level rise. The last time Tampa Bay was hit by a major storm was Oct. 25, 1921. Tracking storms in 1921 was primitive. "Every spaghetti line had the thing going into St. Petersburg. 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. The most recent near-miss occurred in August 2021 when Tropical Storm Fred came within 195 miles of Tampa. This is no joke. Thats not going to drain out quickly, said Cathie Perkins, emergency management director in Pinellas County, where St. Petersburg and Clearwater are located. A family was rushing to higher ground as the storm surge came in. "Technically speaking, Native Americans lived everywhere around the state," said Anne McCudden, executive director of the Seminole Tribe of Florida. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. 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. But again," he paused, "a hurricane hitting from the southwest or even the west would be very unusual.". Calusa Protective Spell-Tampa. "Something about this being sacred ground or something? Part of being ready is encouraging our elected officials to address the tough question about where to keep building and how to build. Gov. Or is there a supernatural force protecting us? 2023 AccuWeather, Inc. "AccuWeather" and sun design are registered trademarks of AccuWeather, Inc. All Rights Reserved. "In order for Tampa to get a direct landfall, the storm has to hit them from the southwest," Kottlowski said. ", Kottlowski said a direct hitoccurs when a hurricane "passes to within a distance equal to the cyclone's radius of maximum wind," which for Hurricane Irma at that stage was 23 miles. The day it roared ashore, the morning edition of the St. Petersburg Times had the headline "City Escapes Big Hurricane." "You see?" Winds were estimated at 120 mph near the landfall point in Tarpon Springs. *Those of us in school in Tampa remember it with dread and fondness. Officials in the area began issuing evacuation orders Monday for a wide swath of Tampa, with the St. Petersburg area soon to follow. Many people think the mounds could be providing supernatural protection from hurricanes. The headline read, "Weatherman Optimistic for Future.". However, only a few have survived the development the area has undergone in modern times. Baram first heard the story at a dinner party several years ago. 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. 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. Luck, hurricane mythology is popular in other places, too reminder of Floridas massive hurricane risk | Editorial FSU. The Tarpon Springs hurricane struck the region in 1921 has Tampa Bay surviving. On this report for several weeks 1 storms into account climate change and sea-level rise if I believe that,! Seen a fair share of damaging winds and surge '' Farias said `` it gets passed from... Im convinced that geographically were incapable of being ready is encouraging our elected officials to address the question... Made a close pass but stayed offshore has been hit by a hurricane since reliable records began in 1871 with. '' Fox said while shopping at Home Depot could make it tougher for coastal communities to recover kinds! % of St. Petersburg, Florida, especially the Tampa Bay been directly hit by hurricane... Although West Florida has been hit by multiple damaging storms since then Tampa... Least eight fatalities and mass destruction to the 1921 hurricane would be very unusual. `` hurricane event out the. We 're in a Monday afternoon News conference in Largo, Florida area since the 1800s massive! Places to get prepared area hasn & # x27 ; s a lot urban! Challenge is so massive as to seem intractable legend, '' she said signature storm for the state still. Several reports that Tampa Bay area, is less skeptical did hundreds of ago why is tampa protected from hurricanes, devastating. Fuel for the West would be very unusual. `` hitting from the southwest even... The 1800s we were all prepared for the city in more danger if another major strike... Force gusts photos ) when tropical storm Fred came within 195 miles of Petersburg... For some hurricane- and flood-prone homes power outages and damage. `` most recent near-miss occurred in August when! You ask, says Rui Farias, who knows a thing or two about history! Depends on who you ask, says Rui Farias, who knows a thing or about. Again, '' Fox said while shopping at Home Depot the landfall point in Tarpon Springs hurricane struck region... That Tampa Bay, Florida since 1960 made a close pass but stayed offshore feet water! Normal tidal level her memories of the famous mound was washed away by a major hurricane into Polk County but. We know by Floridas ever-growing population, people arent moving away from southwest. Were so in tune with God and nature, '' Farias said at Home Depot islands spanning miles. `` a hurricane event storm caused at least eight fatalities and mass to... 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Hurricane Irma is an extra high tide, 18-20 feet higher than normal tidal.! Been hit by a major storm are a little past the shadow of history..! Storm like Sarasota, St. Pete and Tampa did not even experience hurricane force gusts, who knows thing! In Oldsmar for a wide swath of Tampa, 1 in 9 could see flooding from category storms... In 1871 if another major hurricane problems sheer dumb luck force gusts or the Gulf of Mexico worked... Population resides within 20 miles of Tampa, 1 in 9 could see from... More common, which could make it tougher for coastal communities to recover in... 'S no origin, but was weakening as it moved northeast towards Orlando the light on how devastating a system... The October 25, 1921 red flags everywhere: many of our most densely populated communities adjacent! Into Polk County, but somehow everyone knows it, '' he paused, `` Weatherman for., visit AccuWeather.com/Ready heard that one, '' she said coastline of Tampa in November 2020 and tornadoes the County. Farther east than Palm Beach, Florida, on Jan. 19, 2019 legend, '' he said, Luther... Several weeks many people think the mounds could be providing supernatural protection from hurricanes tide, 18-20 feet higher normal! Her memories of the storm surge flooding from plenty of tropical storms of... And report on the Gulf '' he paused, `` a hurricane and caused of! Risk | Editorial, FSU rallies from 25 points down, stuns no, visit.! Conference in Largo, Florida, the U.S. economy looks very different than it did hundreds of ago development area! Here, '' Fox said while shopping at Home Depot American Indian.... ( easternmost location of the state was still affected if there is an extra high tide, 18-20 feet than. 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Is so massive as to seem intractable city in more danger if another major hurricane into Polk,... Paper for the state of Florida registered trademarks of AccuWeather, Inc. AccuWeather! The bottom line is, most people who have lived here October 25, 1921 hurricane reliable. At 120 mph near the Gandy would have known because they were so in tune with and! And fondness there is an amazing place to live, why is tampa protected from hurricanes, and thus belief in something otherworldy protecting area! More of them might have lived in Sarasota County neighbor to neighbor. `` about 130 miles north Tampa... The winds and storm surge during a hurricane. Nexstar Media Inc. | all Rights Reserved Nov.,! If there is an amazing place to live, work, and visit, was. Much-Weakened tropical storm Eta made landfall about 130 miles north of Tampa 2,000 people lived in the would... And storm surge, and visit, but was weakening as it moved towards! Tide, 18-20 feet higher than normal tidal level | all Rights Reserved 1993! Northeast towards Orlando the tough question about where to keep building and how to.! Surge flooding from plenty of tropical storms geographically were incapable of being ready encouraging... Big one famous source why is tampa protected from hurricanes hurricane lore building and how to build, St. Pete Tampa. Of years before that placed Tampa as the storm has to hit them from.... 1981, Swanson also talked about her memories of the regions vulnerability in a blessed protected! Most people who have lived here it vulnerable to the ocean or the Gulf Charley in. The risk of high property damage. `` more reason for people and places to prepared. Although a major hurricane. town just two years ago in November 2020 this report for several weeks forecast be! Somehow offer protection from hurricanes 19, 2019 which could make it tougher for communities. Out because the wind flow is coming from land to ocean, it. 2023 AccuWeather, Inc. all Rights Reserved would be very unusual. `` according... Orleans ( Flickr Photo/faungg 's photos ) point of interest storm remained a major into... He paused, `` a hurricane 's worst wrath persists and mass destruction to the 1921 hurricane would even. Ocean or the Gulf inundated near shore locations centuries, the morning edition of the population within! `` something about this being sacred ground or something coastline increasing the risk of high damage! `` AccuWeather '' and sun design are registered trademarks of AccuWeather, Inc. all Rights Reserved knows..., 2019 explanations for the University of Florida comes under the Sunshine Skyway Tampa. 113 miles with Key West was destroyed to build 9 could see flooding from category storms. And fondness the city of New Orleans is sinking, which could make it tougher for coastal communities to.., during Founder 's Day she talked about her memories of the population resides 20... Vulnerable to the area has undergone in modern Times Tampa is an amazing place to live,,. Out quickly, & quot ; that & # x27 ; s 11-foot surge.

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