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. But it was damaged to varying degrees by hurricanes in 1926, 1944 and 1950, as well as Donna in 1960 and Charley in 2004. "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. "There's nothing wrong with having faith, but if people believe that, one day their luck will run out and there will be serious loss of life," said Stephen Leatherman, director of Florida International University's International Hurricane Center. 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. Key West with maximum elevation of 18 feet above sea level makes it susceptible to heavy flooding and storm surge during a hurricane event. 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. 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. Fox 13 reports that Tampa Bay residents are preparing for Hurricane Ian, a category 3 storm that could be catastrophic. If it has anything to do with Indians and hurricanes, it's not true. There are red flags everywhere: Many of our most densely populated communities are adjacent to the ocean or the gulf. The findings highlight a counterintuitive effect of . A storm like the 1921 hurricane would turn Pinellas County from a peninsula into two separate islands. The bottom line is, most people who live in the state have never experienced the full wrath of major hurricane. In fact, our coastal location, topography, and large population make us significantly vulnerable to a wide array of hazards, including hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, and sinkholes. In 1848, one-third of the famous mound was washed away by a hurricane. Its been over a century since a major hurricane (category 3 or greater) has made landfall in the Tampa Bay Area. A report from the First Street Foundation paints the states grim hurricane future. A family was rushing to higher ground as the storm surge came in. "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. Try searching for a city, zip code or point of interest. On certain days, the park opens for public tours. I just keep counting my blessings. ", Ybor City Tampa Bay, Florida, on Jan. 19, 2019. There were eight confirmed fatalities, nearly half because of drowning as the storm surge inundated near shore locations. "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. 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 Tampa Bay area hasn't suffered a direct hit from a hurricane since 1929. In 2021, over $100 billion was spent on the pet industry in the U.S. alone. "It's sort of protected here.". The faded ink had several names at the top that were illegible. It's certainly possible some of the pipelines could be damaged.". The last direct strike was in 1921. Finally making it by boat to the Cortez Public School, now the Florida Maritime Museum. July 2, 2020, 10:58 AM. Hurricane Irma is the most recent in 2017. 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. "I was here for Donna. "I've heard that one," she said. That was the 1921 Tampa Bay Hurricane. Or is there a supernatural force protecting us? While many people who have lived in Florida for a while believe they have experienced a truly catastrophic hurricane, few have. Its easy to become inured to hurricane risks. It derailed the railroad in that area which was obviously a significant impact to travel commerce and people coming into the area. ", Joel, however, is less skeptical. Why them? 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On the western edge of St. Petersburg, Doris and Erik Anderson live on Sacred Lands. Hours later, Tampa was under 11 feet of water. Wind too strong.". But the legend grows each year that goes by without a destructive storm battering the Tampa Bay area. By the time it reached Hardee, Desoto and Polk County the storm was a category 1 hurricane. Its one of the most populated areas on Floridas Gulf Coast, but hasnt had a direct hit from a landfalling hurricane in 100 years. 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. Even if the hurricane makes . 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. In addition to this, a majority of the population resides within 20 miles of the coastline increasing the risk of high property damage. Tampas Black majority City Council district has 2 candidates. But the eye-popping numbers in the First Street report are just the latest proof that ignoring one of the states greatest threats wont make it go away. A new study warns that hurricanes are getting more dangerous because of climate change. So we are very fortunate we have not been hit by a major hurricane in close to a hundred years.". But again," he paused, "a hurricane hitting from the southwest or even the west would be very unusual.". On Nov. 14, 1993, during Founder's Day she talked about her memories of the storm. Others believe the Tocobaga tribe that inhabited the coastline keeps us safe. By Hurricane Ian could threaten all of that development. Hundreds of years before them, so did the Tocobagan tribe, which built mounds along the Pinellas peninsula. Although a major hurricane is long overdue in Miami, the city has dealt with its share of intense hurricanes in the past. Also known as the Tarpon Springs hurricane, the Category 3 storm leveled the region with up to 115 mph winds. "Every spaghetti line had the thing going into St. Petersburg. That's not going to drain out quickly," said Cathie Perkins . "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. Fox, of Nokomis, who has lived in the area since 1959, shakes her head. 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. On Sundays, the park opens for public tours. It could have been because of storms or mosquito levels. Legends and luck are nice stories when it comes to hurricanes, but at some point Tampa Bay will be hit. Kevin France, AccuWeather staff writer. 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 the past, large death tolls have resulted from the rise of the ocean associated with many of the major hurricanes that have made landfall. According to the NSW, Naples saw a. "As time goes on, it comes true.". "Because it is located by the shallow Tampa Bay, water piles up into the city, causing very significant storm surge along the coastline.". It has been called Dr. Seuss Day because of this. 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. On October 25, 1921, the Tampa Bay Area suffered the most destructive hurricane to hit the area since the 1800s. "On the Port Resiliency Index, developed by the Gulf of Mexico Alliance, the Port scored 95%.". "I told you about that blessing.". However, that hasnt prevented the scientific community from noticing this odd pattern. The most obvious reason weve avoided major hurricane problems sheer dumb luck. When buying cowboy boots, there are a few aspects to consider, such as how far up they go on your legs and their design. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. Only a couple hundred-thousand people lived in the area. "Port Tampa Bay was also the first U.S. seaport to be named 'Storm Ready' by the National Weather Service when we received the designation. "It gets passed down from neighbor to neighbor.". After the infamous Tarpon Springs hurricane, the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration said in a report on the 1921 storm: In general, cyclones moving over the Gulf of Mexico had a tendency of passing well north of Tampa. Comments that don't add to the conversation may be automatically or "The Port of Tampa would have lots of water in it. 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. 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. 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. Waves from the Bay almost reached the streets of Ybor City. *Those of us in school in Tampa remember it with dread and fondness. When asked about a myth spreading around town, county archaeologist Dan Hughes jumped in: "Let me guess. Regardless of luck, hurricane mythology is popular in other places, too. 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. How to avoid the potentially deadly grip of a rip current. 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. 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