The National Read Across America Day takes place every year on March 2, Geisels birthday. "I love that story.". Paluska asked. "Given all the development across Pinellas County, Hillsborough County, the Tampa Bay area, the devastation would be catastrophic. 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. Or is there a supernatural force protecting us? But, luckily, the area has avoided. But, two major hurricanes in 173 years are still two too many. I keep my fingers crossed all hurricane season," Dr. Luther said. In addition to this, a majority of the population resides within 20 miles of the coastline increasing the risk of high property damage. "Like Miami, Tampa is a large metropolitan area and the effects of a hurricane would be widespread throughout the city," Samuhel explained. 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. By ", Joel, however, is less skeptical. There are a number of serious hazards that come along with hurricanes striking a coastal area. On Nov. 14, 1993, during Founder's Day she talked about her memories of the storm. Heres what we know. Another, to the magic powers of Siesta Key's white sand beaches and underwater crystals. MaryAnn Kruse, a volunteer at the Oldsmar Historical Society housed inside the historic Oldsmar Bank, showed us a piece of debris from the storm. 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. It is these experiences which concern hurricane experts and emergency managers because it can lead to a false sense of security, feeling they have already seen the worst of Mother Nature, but in reality it can be much worse. Thats a lot of rain. "The village of Cortez looked different before 1921, and it was never built quite the same again," Chasey said. "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.". 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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. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. 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 land around New Orleans is sinking, which puts the city in more danger if another major hurricane strike.". We have updated our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. 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. manually removed by Facebook or AccuWeather. A new study warns that hurricanes are getting more dangerous because of climate change. The most recent near-miss occurred in August 2021 when Tropical Storm Fred came within 195 miles of Tampa. Breathing issues are possible at some beaches. 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. Sept. 27, 2022. 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. Since it seems to be working, many people still believe in the legend. Hours later, Tampa was under 11 feet of water. Its easy to scream retreat! but most Florida residents live within 20 miles of the coast. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. 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. A World Bank study a few years before that placed Tampa as the seventh-most vulnerable city to major storms on the entire globe. And, taking into account climate change, areas that wouldn't flood before could now be under several feet of water. The Tampa-St. Petersburg area has an 11 percent chance of feeling the impacts of a hurricane in any given year. Most of the dead drowned in the storm surge. Some people believe American Indians here blessed the land to protect from hurricanes. 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. The storm surge pushed a wall of water inland, with waves from the bay almost breaking in the streets of Ybor City. 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. "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. The Tampa Bay area hasn't suffered a direct hit from a hurricane since 1929. "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. Storm Team 8s Chief Meteorologist Jeff Berardelli explained. Over the past 173 years, Tampa Bay has only been hit by two major hurricanes. Using a Category 5 simulation storm called Hurricane Phoenix, the council projected that downtown Tampa would encounter more than 21 feet of water and could face 2,000 fatalities and up to $250. "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. Many of the other cities in the region have experienced similar explosive growth. Half of all the refined petroleum gasoline, diesel fuel, jet fuel for the state of Florida comes under the Sunshine Skyway bridge. "Every spaghetti line had the thing going into St. Petersburg. Some photos were taken during the event. Hurricane Katrina (2005) is a prime example of the damage and devastation that can be caused by surge. "It would be catastrophic. It was so tightly wound that many likened it to a giant tornado, causing buzz saw damage along its path. ", Miami & Fisher Island from 500 feet (Flickr Photo/Mohd Althani). "This is a very rare track for a hurricane. Fox 13 reports that Tampa Bay residents are preparing for Hurricane Ian, a category 3 storm that could be catastrophic. But the storm quickly weakened as it moved north. "That'll be good," LaMarre said. ", Hughes takes phone calls about the myth every year during hurricane season. 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. The headline read, "Weatherman Optimistic for Future.". Unfortunately, where the hurricane of 1921 hit just north of Tampa Bay was a worst-case scenario. Not able to get out. "Thank goodness for the Tocobagans is all I have to say.". The primitive way of tracking storms in the 1920s would prove deadly for some. 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. 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. 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Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System. Lauren Fox, AccuWeather staff writer. "I like to believe those things are true," Farias mused. Thats a lot of risk, to state the obvious. "Folk tales give us comfort, so we use something we can't disprove," Baram said. 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. "The signature storm for the West Coast of Florida, especially the Tampa Bay area, is the October 25, 1921 storm. 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. Wind too strong.". In fact, historians have no idea which tribes even lived in Sarasota County. Gov. A hundred years of good luck? Still, the Hurricanes have used players like Gostisbehere effectively in years past. Its a nice myth, giving many Tampa Bay residents believe that we have ancient and otherworldly guardians against hurricane invasions. "These numbers are not based upon property damage but instead focus on the chances that a hurricane will strike a region based upon factors such as geography and location. Many of these people live in low-lying neighborhoods that are highly susceptible to storm surge and flooding they have rarely before experienced, which some experts say could be worsened by the effects of climate change. Even still, a slight irritation in the throat is something he and . A safe haven for so many families caught off guard by the winds and surge. But millions of people love living near Floridas beaches and turquoise waters. So while we love the memes of a carefree Tampa: Make sure to prepare for every hurricane. At least eight people died and damage was estimated at $5 million at the time. If you use a windshield cover, you can at least forget about scrapping the ice off your windshield to save some time and hassle. Not since the Tarpon Springs hurricane struck the region in 1921 has Tampa Bay been directly hit by a major storm. 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. The central wastewater treatment plant, Howard Curren Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant, is in the middle of Port Tampa Bay. "As time goes on, it comes true.". And areas just miles away from the storm like Sarasota, St. Pete and Tampa did not even experience hurricane force gusts. In 1848, one-third of the famous mound was washed away by a hurricane. 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. Finally making it by boat to the Cortez Public School, now the Florida Maritime Museum. And affordable property insurance could be added to the endangered species list. 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. 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. The two which affected the Bay Area were Charley and Irma. There are red flags everywhere: Many of our most densely populated communities are adjacent to the ocean . A number of other explanations for the relative safety have surfaced, most of them questionable. 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. 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. "But it was still a hurricane and caused lots of damage.". Tampa launches a voucher program as an . However, legend has passed down from Tampa resident to Tampa resident whatever the mounds were for, they somehow offer protection from hurricanes. "It's almost like when a myth becomes history," Farias said. "I wasn't a believer before, but I am now," Farias said Tuesday as the sun shone over Tampa Bay. Calusa Protective Spell-Tampa. 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. 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. ", On October 27, 1921, a report in the Tampa Daily Times predicted the 100-year streak of good luck that followed. Try searching for a city, zip code or point of interest. In 2004 Hurricane Charley made landfall near Punta Gorda, south of the Bay Area. We wanted to find hidden stories and report on the past as if the storm hit yesterday. Neighbors rescued them. But the legend grows each year that goes by without a destructive storm battering the Tampa Bay area. 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. *Those of us in school in Tampa remember it with dread and fondness. 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. A picture hangs in the museum showing boats outside the brick schoolhouse. 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. Yet for years storms seemed to bypass the region somewhat inexplicably. "The Spaniards called them gentle giants and said they were. Depends on who you ask, says Rui Farias, who knows a thing or two about local history. Oct. 25, 1921 marks 100 years without major a hurricane. "A lot of people say it's the Indian mounds," Farias replied. 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