During our research, we came across a heartbreaking story of survival, death, and devastating destruction. Storm surge maps are constantly updated. "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. 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. "We know they moved inland during certain seasons. 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. A storm like the 1921 hurricane would turn Pinellas County from a peninsula into two separate islands. It is one of the few coastal places skipped over by Spanish explorers, the only people who wrote descriptions of early Florida. In Tampa, 1 in 9 could see flooding from Category 1 storms. Not able to get out. "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. "Could it be people from the past protecting the present?" A number of other explanations for the relative safety have surfaced, most of them questionable. Heres what we know. But, two major hurricanes in 173 years are still two too many. Want next-level safety, ad-free? The Tampa Bay area hasn't suffered a direct hit from a hurricane since 1929. Comments that don't add to the conversation may be automatically or In a St. Petersburg Times article printed on October 27, 1921, the headline read "Tragic Death Attends Gale.". Will we allow for more density in coastal high-hazard areas? Eight people were killed when the storm hit the seaside town with 120 mph. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) Its been more than a century since a major storm like Hurricane 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.". "It gets passed down from neighbor to neighbor.". Everything underwater, massive flooding," Dr. Luther said. The Gulf of Mexico is a warm body of water that is a breeding ground for hurricanes. I think were in the perfect spot, Bonita Bay resident Chris Williams told the Post. Just as an example, the city of Tampa had about 51,000 residents in 1920. So while we love the memes of a carefree Tampa: Make sure to prepare for every hurricane. When buying cowboy boots, there are a few aspects to consider, such as how far up they go on your legs and their design. Storm Team 8s Chief Meteorologist Jeff Berardelli explained. In fact, historians have no idea which tribes even lived in Sarasota County. Some locals claim the tribe blessed the mounds for protection from hurricanes and other hazards, but we have yet to confirm the validity of their story. Editorials are the institutional voice of the Tampa Bay Times. With satellites, cell phones, and advanced technology, we can track storms days, even weeks in advance. "You see?" It's why they headed north to Pass-a-Grille. Hurricane Irma is the most recent in 2017. We have updated our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. "I like to believe those things are true," Farias mused. Those turned out to be false. Depends on who you ask, says Rui Farias, who knows a thing or two about local history. 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. Or, the American Indians who once. Thats unlikely to change anytime soon. Those numbers also go a long way to explaining why it would be naive to expect property insurance rates in Floridas coastal counties to tumble anytime soon. Hurricane Katrina in 2005 shined the light on how devastating a tropical system can be for the city of New Orleans. We keep building in the most storm-prone areas. "But I don't know.". "Folk tales give us comfort, so we use something we can't disprove," Baram said. Thats all the more reason for people and places to get prepared. Half of all the refined petroleum gasoline, diesel fuel, jet fuel for the state of Florida comes under the Sunshine Skyway bridge. Hurricane-force winds can destroy mobile homes and buildings. Thats a lot of rain. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. I keep my fingers crossed all hurricane season," Dr. Luther said. . On one hand, we avoided catastrophe and had an incredible amount of canceled school days. 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. she said. Tocobagan Indian Mounds have been found in Safety Harbor and near the Gandy. Hurricane Ian was growing stronger as it barreled toward Cuba on a track to hit Florida's west coast as a major hurricane as early as Wednesday. Fox 13 reports that Tampa Bay residents are preparing for Hurricane Ian, a category 3 storm that could be catastrophic. Associated Press writer Anthony Izaguirre in Tallahassee contributed to this story. But, luckily, the area has avoided. And while the area has been hit by multiple damaging storms since then, Tampa Bay has somehow avoided the big one. "There is. 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. "It really tells us two things. Or is there a supernatural force protecting us? It has been called Dr. Seuss Day because of this. Also known as the Tarpon Springs hurricane, the Category 3 storm leveled the region with up to 115 mph winds. About 2,000 people lived in the county originally, historians estimate. Eight people were killed when the storm hit the seaside town with 120 mph winds. Clearly, when you look at the Tampa Bay area, one of the reasons why we fear storms is because of the sensitivity of this area and the fragility of this area, DeSantis said. However, only a few have survived the development the area has undergone in modern times. SARASOTA COUNTY -- Marcus Joel heard it from a co-worker. Bonni Fox, from a neighbor. "It's almost like when a myth becomes history," Farias said. The Tampa Bay History Center is built on top of the fort's infirmary. "I think it's kind of cool. When Hurricane Isabel struck the region in 2003, the Army Corp of Engineers was forced to fill up an inlet that was created when the storm split Hatteras Island between Frisco and Hatteras, North Carolina. Today, that number is almost 395,000. However . Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System. "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. But it was damaged to varying degrees by hurricanes in 1926, 1944 and 1950, as well as Donna in 1960 and Charley in 2004. 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. 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. Every room will have a view of the water. On certain days, the park opens for public tours. Only a couple hundred-thousand people lived in the area. While that figure includes pets of all kinds, dogs Today, the U.S. economy looks very different than it did hundreds of ago. And as we know by Floridas ever-growing population, people arent moving away from the risk. "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. After all, they are called barriers for a reason. On Nov. 14, 1993, during Founder's Day she talked about her memories of the storm. When he's not teaching a Florida history class at St. Petersburg High, he works as executive director of the Saint Petersburg Museum of History near the Pier. "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. Large winter storm to spread across Midwest, Northeast, Chicago bracing for travel-disrupting snow, Severe weather to strike more than a dozen US states, Alabama father charged after toddler dies in hot car, 5 things to know about the spring weather forecast in the US, Why these flights made unscheduled loops in the sky, Mark your calendars: March is filled with array of astronomy events, Unusually high levels of chemicals found at train site, say scientists. Over the past 173 years, Tampa Bay has only been hit by two major hurricanes. However, most showed the aftermath. 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. 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. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. But as seen below on this FEMA map, the swath of damage was very narrow. "The Port of Tampa would have lots of water in it. By the time it reached Hardee, Desoto and Polk County the storm was a category 1 hurricane. In Pinellas County, home to nearly 1 million people and bordered almost entirely by water, 1 in 5 built properties is at risk of flooding from Category 1 hurricanes. 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. For centuries, the Tocobaga tribe inhabited the coastline of Tampa Bay, surviving on a diet consisting mostly of fish and shellfish. Turn them in to HCSO Valentines. When asked about a myth spreading around town, county archaeologist Dan Hughes jumped in: "Let me guess. Tampa has been undergoing major infrastructure upgrades to protect the vulnerable city from flooding, but as Hurricane Ian barrels toward Florida's west coast, the project is still years from. "Thank goodness for the Tocobagans is all I have to say.". "On the Port Resiliency Index, developed by the Gulf of Mexico Alliance, the Port scored 95%.". So we are very fortunate we have not been hit by a major hurricane in close to a hundred years.". The western coast of Florida has endured its share of hurricanes, and the city of Tampa is no exception. 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. Breathing issues are possible at some beaches. Have the app? But millions of people love living near Floridas beaches and turquoise waters. "It looks a lot better out there from any of the beaches to the south," Heil said. The storms are coming. 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. "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 Predators will receive: Jeannot, 25, comes to Tampa Bay as he finishes up a two-year contract that carries an $800K average annual value. The last direct strike was in 1921. Built in 1922, residents are known to line up there to pray. 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. 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. At least eight people died and damage was estimated at $5 million at the time. 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. And next week, forecasters are predicting yet another one within striking distance. Sarasota has not been a bull's-eye for a major hurricane since reliable records began in 1871. 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. Its a nice myth, giving many Tampa Bay residents believe that we have ancient and otherworldly guardians against hurricane invasions. Im a skeptic. It may sound hard to believe, but Florida has only seen 4 landfalling category 4 or greater storms in the past 50 years. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Red tide is back (again) in Pinellas County. Even still, a slight irritation in the throat is something he and . "I told you about that blessing.". A report from the First Street Foundation paints the states grim hurricane future. The area has seen a fair share of damaging winds and storm surge flooding from plenty of tropical storms. A hundred years of good luck? 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. Sept. 27, 2022. Then, early Monday morning, Irma's sudden downgrade to a Category 2 reaffirmed her belief. 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. Did local Indian mounds save Tampa Bay from Irma's worst, Records show the region has a stormy past, Sarasota,Florida's history with tropical systems, Interactive chart showing 74 Storms - 1930 - 2010 ( Error on map but good info ), Manasota Key Ignored By Media During Hurricane Irma, Worst Hurricanes to hit Florida in the Past Century, Links to local YouTube videos taken during Hurricane Irma, Irma Youtube Videos taken on Manasota Key, YouTube - Gulf to Bay After Irma - September 15, 2017, YouTube - The Beach at Gulf to Bay After Irma. 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