The findings highlight a counterintuitive effect of . SARASOTA COUNTY -- Marcus Joel heard it from a co-worker. 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. A view of the site of a 23-foot mound at Sacred Lands in St. Petersburg's Jungle Prada neighborhood. The primitive way of tracking storms in the 1920s would prove deadly for some. The company Elev8 Fun will open its next location at Citrus Park Mall. What's interesting is so some of the flooding that we had for tropical storm Eta was very similar to some of the future projections for sea-level rise.". But, the note was clear, "my family would be drowned. attacks, and spam will not be tolerated. ", Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Today, that number is almost 395,000. 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" 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. It made landfall in Big Pine Key as a. 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. "We've got the high areas in our country we'd be moving people and our assets and staging things in advance. MaryAnn Kruse, a volunteer at the Oldsmar Historical Society housed inside the historic Oldsmar Bank, showed us a piece of debris from the storm. 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. "Miami has a large population density, and as a result, the effects of a major hurricane would be catastrophic to the city," AccuWeather Meteorologist David Samuhel said. Dr. Luther said there are also chemicals for the phosphate industry and refined ammonium stored at the port. "I wasn't a believer before, but I am now," Farias said Tuesday as the sun shone over Tampa Bay. 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. 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. Follow @TBTimes_Opinion on Twitter for more opinion news. Since then, the Tampa Bay has remained untouched. But, two major hurricanes in 173 years are still two too many. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Because the system was so tight, it was able to remain intense far inland, even into southern and eastern portions of the Bay Area. 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. After all, they are called barriers for a reason. "The probabilities are based upon 126 years of hurricane data and storm paths dating back to the 1800s," AccuWeather Hurricane Expert Dan Kottlowski said. 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.. Have the app? Jeannot will be a restricted free agent this summer and . Kevin France, AccuWeather staff writer. 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. But again," he paused, "a hurricane hitting from the southwest or even the west would be very unusual.". This article represents the opinion of the Tampa Bay Times Editorial Board. Many of the other cities in the region have experienced similar explosive growth. "I've heard that one," she said. 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. 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. They also make sure the petroleum tanks themselves are at least halfway full. "The Port of Tampa would have lots of water in it. 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. The grotto at St. Mary's Star of the Sea Church in Key West is probably Florida's most famous source of hurricane lore. 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. (DroneBase via AP), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. But it was damaged to varying degrees by hurricanes in 1926, 1944 and 1950, as well as Donna in 1960 and Charley in 2004. Many people think the mounds could be providing supernatural protection from hurricanes," a recent article by AccuWeather said. VIDEO: Man casually rides jet ski near Sarasota as Hurricane Ian moves in. It was a formidable storm, but nowhere near as strong as it could have been. 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. Try searching for a city, zip code or point of interest. "A lot of people say it's the Indian mounds," Farias replied. The storm surge from that hurricane, estimated at Category 3 with winds of up to 129 mph ( 207 km/h) was pegged at 11 feet (3.3 meters). 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. "That'll be good," LaMarre said. Tampa launches a voucher program as an . Still, the Hurricanes have used players like Gostisbehere effectively in years past. The previous year, a much-weakened Tropical Storm Eta made landfall about 130 miles north of Tampa in November 2020. Officially the storm remained a major hurricane into Polk County, but was weakening as it moved northeast towards Orlando. Even if the hurricane makes . "The land around New Orleans is sinking, which puts the city in more danger if another major hurricane strike.". The day it roared ashore, the morning edition of the St. Petersburg Times had the headline "City Escapes Big Hurricane." "Every spaghetti line had the thing going into St. Petersburg. Tampa Bay has had some close calls with hurricanes. In 1848, one-third of the famous mound was washed away by a hurricane. Yet for years storms seemed to bypass the region somewhat inexplicably. On Sundays, the park opens for public tours. Storm survivor Ethel Swanson was 7-years-old when the storm hit. Paluska and ABC Action News photographer Reed Moeller worked on this report for several weeks. "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. Skyrocketing property insurance rates will change some minds. Hundreds of years before them, so did the Tocobagan tribe, which built mounds along the Pinellas peninsula. "Do they want to protect their burial mounds," Farias wondered in the interview. In 1981, Swanson also talked about her life in Oldsmar for a research paper for the University of Florida. "Could it be people from the past protecting the present?" Thats a lot of rain. At least eight people died and damage was estimated at $5 million at the time. "Technically speaking, Native Americans lived everywhere around the state," said Anne McCudden, executive director of the Seminole Tribe of Florida. The storm surge pushed a wall of water inland, with waves from the bay almost breaking in the streets of Ybor City. While many people who have lived in Florida for a while believe they have experienced a truly catastrophic hurricane, few have. 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. The First Street report also showed how climate change will push hurricane force winds farther inland, not just in Florida but in places like Arkansas and Tennessee. The petroleum facilities would be out of business for days at a 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. 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. Even still, a slight irritation in the throat is something he and . Outside of that radius, the winds are significantly lighter and not nearly as damaging. However, that hasnt prevented the scientific community from noticing this odd pattern. war and disease brought by a Spanish explorer, Supernatural forces at play? Top 5 US cities most vulnerable to hurricanes. A Pinellas resident for 45 years, she was waiting for Irma to make a turn like Hurricane Charley did in 2004. "It's sort of protected here.". Another reminder of Floridas massive hurricane risk | Editorial. Newspaper reports at the time warned of a hurricane churning in the Gulf of Mexico, but no one knew where or when it would hit. 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. In 2004, Hurricane Charley made a turn towards Punta Gorda, sparing Tampa. The National Read Across America Day takes place every year on March 2, Geisels birthday. Finally making it by boat to the Cortez Public School, now the Florida Maritime Museum. "Native Americans to this particular region are a little past the shadow of history.". Weve made it through another major that was supposed to come right at us. Waves from the Bay almost reached the streets of Ybor City. Fox, of Nokomis, who has lived in the area since 1959, shakes her head. 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 it could be bad. 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. Large burial mounds remaining from Tocobaga civilization are still present today, with the oldest one located overlooking Old Tampa Bay. 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 . "I do believe in the power of God.". It has been called Dr. Seuss Day because of this. High winds can cause a tremendous amount of damage during a hurricane. "The signature storm for the West Coast of Florida, especially the Tampa Bay area, is the October 25, 1921 storm. "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. 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. told the Washington Post in 2017 following Hurricane Irma. "It's like a lot of urban myths; there's no origin, but somehow everyone knows it," Baram said. We have updated our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. If it has anything to do with Indians and hurricanes, it's not true. A safe haven for so many families caught off guard by the winds and surge. "How devastating would an impact from a hurricane similar to the 1921 storm be in today's time?" The conversation must grow louder. Key West with maximum elevation of 18 feet above sea level makes it susceptible to heavy flooding and storm surge during a hurricane event. Tampa Bay is shallow and many low-lying neighborhoods get flooded during a strong rainstorm. Comments that don't add to the conversation may be automatically or Editorials are the institutional voice of the Tampa Bay Times. Hurricane Irma is the most recent in 2017. Kottlowski cautions that the Tampa Bay area is "long overdue for a landfall," but he attributes the region's location and the history of tracks that storms take as the reason the area has escaped the worst throughout the 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. This piece of folklore came from my co-worker, who grew up in Tampa, Florida. Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, FL Strawberry Festival prepares for big crowds, new, IRB leaders concerned over short-term rental debate, LIVE: NASA, SpaceX to launch Crew-6 from FL to ISS, Scientists report finding 5K black holes, more, Pro-Am race aims to raise funds for concussion research, Pinellas murder victims parents make plea for help, Cleanup continues after Manatee Co. train derailment, Lightning make roster moves ahead of NHL trade deadline, Teens death leads to safety changes in Pinellas, 2022 Hurricane Guide: Prepare your family before a storm, Volunteers help veteran trying to feed homeless, City of Tampa removes speed hump in front of mans, Trustees eliminate diversity office at New College, More than 4K complaints filed against insurers after, Bank accounts frozen years ago finally released to, Cyber criminals increasingly targeting hospitals, Top NFL draft prospect charged in fatal crash, Buccaneers to release veteran running back, Death of former star swimmer under police investigation, Penguins score 6 in 2nd period, beat Lightning 7-3, Jake Paul takes first boxing defeat by split decision, Turning 50? "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. Or is there a supernatural force protecting us? "But I don't know.". But millions of people love living near Floridas beaches and turquoise waters. What are those large pyramids next to the Skyway? It would not have taken too much of pattern a shift for that to happen. A storm like the 1921 hurricane would turn Pinellas County from a peninsula into two separate islands. The storm caused roughly $5 million in damage at the time. 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. "I told you about that blessing.". 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. 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. Red tide is back (again) in Pinellas County. "I like to believe those things are true," Farias mused. Or is there a supernatural force protecting us? However, only a few have survived the development the area has undergone in modern times. Copyright 2021 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. The area has seen a fair share of damaging winds and storm surge flooding from plenty of tropical storms. Tampas Black majority City Council district has 2 candidates. 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. This map of Cat 3 storms shows only one direct hit on Englewood in 1944 since 1851, Article debunks Indian Legend regarding storm-safety theory, Tampa Bays escape from Irma was more than luck, Sarasota has been safe from hurricanes for years. 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. Based on historical data, on average a hurricane will pass within 50 miles of the Miami metropolitan area every six to eight years. In that time, they traveled to historical societies, museums, and areas hit the hardest by the storm. 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. 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. Depends on who you ask,. A storm surge of up to 11 feet damaged and destroyed many structures along coastal locations from Pasco County south through southwest Florida. The Tampa Bay History Center is built on top of the fort's infirmary. "Cape Hatteras is very close to the Gulf Stream, which enables hurricanes to strengthen due to warmer ocean temperatures during the summer," Samuhel explained. Hours later, Tampa was under 11 feet of water. Built in 1922, residents are known to line up there to pray. The last one hit more . But the legend grows each year that goes by without a destructive storm battering the Tampa Bay area. Many of the 347,645 people living in the area have homes along the coast, making residents susceptible to storm surge. "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. 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. ", 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. This map shows hurricanes that have passed with 100 miles of St. Petersburg, Florida since 1960. With reverse storm surge, especially in larger storms like Ian, the opposite happens, explained Pastelok. 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. 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. The 1921 storm sent a storm surge all the way into downtown Tampa into Ybor. The Burgert Brothers Photographic Collection at the Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative contained the most pictures of the storm. she said. 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. And affordable property insurance could be added to the endangered species list. For more safety and preparedness tips, visit AccuWeather.com/Ready. This is no joke. Kottlowski explained that Irma "was a Cat 1 when it passed just east ofdowntown Tampa with a tropical-storm-force wind field of over 300 miles. Thats not going to drain out quickly, said Cathie Perkins, emergency management director in Pinellas County, where St. Petersburg and Clearwater are located.