Thats not going to drain out quickly, said Cathie Perkins, emergency management director in Pinellas County, where St. Petersburg and Clearwater are located. "Folk tales give us comfort, so we use something we can't disprove," Baram said. Can we build even stronger buildings, and should we? 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. 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. Associated Press writer Anthony Izaguirre in Tallahassee contributed to this story. Understanding that reality is a key to being adequately prepared this upcoming hurricane season. "I feel like being here," Anderson said. Tampa Skyline (Flickr Photo/Sonny Side Up!). The Post, in fact, found that people are moving to counties categorized as high risk for hurricane-force winds at six times the rate of other counties. However, only a few have survived the development the area has undergone in modern times. "The land around New Orleans is sinking, which puts the city in more danger if another major hurricane strike.". Did American Indians who roamed the land centuries ago protect Pinellas with a blessing? 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. I think were in the perfect spot, Bonita Bay resident Chris Williams told the Post. Turn them in to HCSO Valentines. 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. 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. But after wreaking havoc in the Florida Keys, Naples and Miami, Irma weakened and limped to the east of Tampa Bay as a manageable Category 1. "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.". It's 11-foot storm surge flooded downtown Tampa and turned St. Petersburg into an. This westerly flow steers systems from west to east. 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. 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. This piece of folklore came from my co-worker, who grew up in Tampa, Florida. "I've heard that one," she said. 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. "Typically, when tropical systems get caught in the jet stream off the East Coast of the U.S., they tend to curve out to sea, but because of the location of Hatteras, hurricanes tend to clip that region before affecting anywhere else on the East Coast.". "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. He says it's less of a blessing or a curse than it is about the science behind hurricanes. 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. The last direct strike was in 1921. A report from the First Street Foundation paints the states grim hurricane future. So while we love the memes of a carefree Tampa: Make sure to prepare for every hurricane. "It really tells us two things. The central wastewater treatment plant, Howard Curren Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant, is in the middle of Port Tampa Bay. 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. And areas just miles away from the storm like Sarasota, St. Pete and Tampa did not even experience hurricane force gusts. Paluska and ABC Action News photographer Reed Moeller worked on this report for several weeks. Hurricane Gladys in 1968, Hurricane Donna, 1960, Hurricane Easy, 1950, and the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane. "I like to believe those things are true," Farias mused. Tampas Black majority City Council district has 2 candidates. The Tocobaga people are the land ancestors of Tampa Bay. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Baram first heard the story at a dinner party several years ago. On the western edge of St. Petersburg, Doris and Erik Anderson live on Sacred Lands. Or is there a supernatural force protecting us? In 2004, Hurricane Charley made a turn towards Punta Gorda, sparing Tampa. 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. Unlock advanced, hyperlocal severe weather alerts when yousubscribe to Premium+on theAccuWeather app.AccuWeather Alertsare prompted by our expert meteorologists who monitor and analyze dangerous weather risks 24/7 to keep you and your family safer. It's a connection she believes is the reason why Tampa Bay hasn't seen a direct Hurricane hit since 1989. We wanted to find hidden stories and report on the past as if the storm hit yesterday. The NWS describes the hurricane as "the forgotten nightmare." We havent done enough to fortify coastal areas against sea-level rise. Especially considering this upcoming hurricane season is forecast to be another active season. Since it seems to be working, many people still believe in the legend. Tampa Bay is very surge-prone because of its orientation.. "There is. Only a couple hundred-thousand people lived in the area. 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. During our research, we came across a heartbreaking story of survival, death, and devastating destruction. And affordable property insurance could be added to the endangered species list. A new study warns that hurricanes are getting more dangerous because of climate change. Amid all the science, a local legend has it that blessings from Native Americans who once called the region home have largely protected it from major storms for centuries. "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. Will we allow for more density in coastal high-hazard areas? 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.". The Saffir Simpson hurricane scale categorizes these storms as catastrophic damage producers. It may sound hard to believe, but Florida has only seen 4 landfalling category 4 or greater storms in the past 50 years. They can come from a group of models or one ensemble model that creates multiple possible storm tracks. It also once saved the life of an early settler after bringing his family to the bay to escape a storm surge. In fact, historians have no idea which tribes even lived in Sarasota County. Its easy to become inured to hurricane risks. 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. "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. Is Tampa protected from hurricanes? In addition to this, a majority of the population resides within 20 miles of the coastline increasing the risk of high property damage. 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. And, that is how they came straight up the streets of Cortez to this very schoolhouse we are standing in right now.". It made landfall in Big Pine Key as a. If you use a windshield cover, you can at least forget about scrapping the ice off your windshield to save some time and hassle. A myth has grown over the last century that Native American mounds are protecting the Tampa Bay area from major hurricanes. "Do they want to protect their burial mounds," Farias wondered in the interview. In July, Hurricane Elsa made a close pass but stayed offshore. Miami takes the number one spot on this list with a 16 percent chance of experiencing the impacts of a hurricane in any given year. The explorers visited the Calusa tribe just south in Charlotte Harbor, and the Tocobaga just north in Tampa Bay, but they passed over the stretch of relatively linear coast in between. Tuesday, October 25, 1921, was the last time Tampa Bay got hit by a major hurricane. 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. "Technically speaking, Native Americans lived everywhere around the state," said Anne McCudden, executive director of the Seminole Tribe of Florida. Be ready. FSU rallies from 25 points down, stuns No. Copyright 2021 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. 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. It's why they headed north to Pass-a-Grille. 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 . Others believe that they blessed the lands to stay eternally safe from destructive storms and hurricanes. 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 primitive way of tracking storms in the 1920s would prove deadly for some. It was so tightly wound that many likened it to a giant tornado, causing buzz saw damage along its path. Yet for years storms seemed to bypass the region somewhat inexplicably. The 1921 storm sent a storm surge all the way into downtown Tampa into Ybor. Cape Hatteras is positioned 280 miles farther east than Palm Beach, Florida, (easternmost location of the Florida coast). "It's like a lot of urban myths; there's no origin, but somehow everyone knows it," Baram said. Hurricane Irma is the most recent in 2017. 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. Tampa Bay was beginning a land boom, and the roaring twenties were in full swing. 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 people believe American Indians here blessed the land to protect from hurricanes. "In order for Tampa to get a direct landfall, the storm has to hit them from the southwest," Kottlowski said. "I told you about that blessing.". Ron DeSantis took note of the regions vulnerability in a Monday afternoon news conference in Largo, Florida. The most recent near-miss occurred in August 2021 when Tropical Storm Fred came within 195 miles of Tampa. A family was rushing to higher ground as the storm surge came in. The article describing in terrifying detail how a husband lost his wife on Rocky Point: On the other side of the bay in Oldsmar, similar stories of survival. 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. Not since the Tarpon Springs hurricane struck the region in 1921 has Tampa Bay been directly hit by a major storm. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. The only other hurricane known to have made a direct hit on Tampa Bay was the Great Gale of 1848, which made landfall in Clearwater, Florida in late September174 years ago. A storm like the 1921 hurricane would turn Pinellas County from a peninsula into two separate islands. 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. The highest storm surge was in the downtown Tampa and Tarpon Springs areas. There are a number of serious hazards that come along with hurricanes striking a coastal area. On Sundays, the park opens for public tours. I have no idea. 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. Local legend has it that mounds built by the Tocobaga tribe hundreds of years ago, protected the area from major storms for centuries. Storm survivor Ethel Swanson was 7-years-old when the storm hit. Hurricanes are a fact of life in Florida. "That's a lot of rain. For Florida, the challenge is so massive as to seem intractable. "If there was a catastrophe, with that flooding of 10 to 12 feet, what would the environmental impact be with all those chemicals? In 1981, Swanson also talked about her life in Oldsmar for a research paper for the University of Florida. "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. Another reminder of Floridas massive hurricane risk | Editorial. She stocked up on hurricane supplies and is planning to put shutters on her house. The oldest remaining one is located near Old Tampa Bay. But as seen below on this FEMA map, the swath of damage was very narrow. 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. We asked. 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 day it roared ashore, the morning edition of the St. Petersburg Times had the headline "City Escapes Big Hurricane." 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. It appears Hurricane Ian will give that legend a test in the coming days. On October 25, 1921, the Tampa Bay Area suffered the most destructive hurricane to hit the area since the 1800s. 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. 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. 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 love that story.". 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. Lauren Fox, AccuWeather staff writer. A view of the site of a 23-foot mound at Sacred Lands in St. Petersburg's Jungle Prada neighborhood. In the Village of Cortez, the storm wiped out nearly every home of the small fishing village. 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. Even still, a slight irritation in the throat is something he and . 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. "A lot of people say it's the Indian mounds," Farias replied. If it has anything to do with Indians and hurricanes, it's not true. There are urban legends that the Sunshine Skyway protects Tampa Bay. The conversation must grow louder. Parker, who has lived in Sarasota for 14 years, rolls her eyes. Wind too strong.". "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. It could have been because of storms or mosquito levels. 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. Similar to Irma, 2004's Hurricane Charley left many in the area relieved when it navigated away from Tampa Bay as it roared toward land. And while the area has been hit by multiple damaging storms since then, Tampa Bay has somehow avoided the big one. The Tampa Bay area hasn't suffered a direct hit from a hurricane since 1929. The Tampa Bay area hasn't suffered a direct hit from a hurricane since 1929. Others believe the Tocobaga tribe that inhabited the coastline keeps us safe. Follow @TBTimes_Opinion on Twitter for more opinion news. With climate change and sea-level rise, Dr. Luther says a storm similar to the 1921 hurricane would be even worse. "Key West has faced several situations in the past where it has been brushed or directly affected by some of the strongest hurricanes to hit the United States. Central Florida. The Tampa Bay History Center is built on top of the fort's infirmary. Everything underwater, massive flooding," Dr. Luther said. The Florida Keys are an archipelago of about 1,700 islands spanning 113 miles with Key West located at the southern tip. The story goes something like this, with the emphasis on "something.". Finally making it by boat to the Cortez Public School, now the Florida Maritime Museum. 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. war and disease brought by a Spanish explorer, Supernatural forces at play? "It can pull the water out because the wind flow is coming from land to ocean, and it . Officials in the area began issuing evacuation orders Monday for a wide swath of Tampa, with the St. Petersburg area soon to follow. The area has seen a fair share of damaging winds and storm surge flooding from plenty of tropical storms. Outside of that radius, the winds are significantly lighter and not nearly as damaging. 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. The storm caused at least eight fatalities and mass destruction to the area. A hundred years of good luck? We were all prepared for the worst and in the last second it turned.". ", Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. (DroneBase via AP), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. The storm caused roughly $5 million in damage at the time. Streetcar in New Orleans (Flickr Photo/faungg's photos). In a St. Petersburg Times article printed on October 27, 1921, the headline read "Tragic Death Attends Gale.". Some photos were taken during the event. Every room will have a view of the water. Eight people were killed when the storm hit the seaside town with 120 mph. ", In the Tarpon Springs Leader, the newspaper rejoiced following the passing of the storm, "Sponge Boats Safe; No Greek Life Lost. But it was damaged to varying degrees by hurricanes in 1926, 1944 and 1950, as well as Donna in 1960 and Charley in 2004. "I don't think we're in a blessed or protected place," Fox said while shopping at Home Depot. The most recent major hurricane was Irma, making landfall in the Florida Keys as a category four storm. "It would be catastrophic. We have updated our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. Have the app? 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. 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. Thats a lot of risk, to state the obvious. ", Headlines in the days after the storm painted a horrific picture of the damage. 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. However, that hasnt prevented the scientific community from noticing this odd pattern. The City of Oldsmar posting the video on YouTube. The bottom line is, most people who live in the state have never experienced the full wrath of major hurricane. About 40% of it goes into the facilities at Port Tampa Bay.". 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. 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. Some estimates are as much as 15 feet of storm surge. By "How devastating would an impact from a hurricane similar to the 1921 storm be in today's time?" Reports said that once the storm passed, soldiers celebrated in the streets drinking whiskey, grateful that no lives were lost. Red tide is back (again) in Pinellas County. Today, that number is almost 395,000. Oct. 25, 1921 marks 100 years without major a hurricane. However, legend has passed down from Tampa resident to Tampa resident whatever the mounds were for, they somehow offer protection from hurricanes. The storms are coming. Central Florida includes the Orlando, Daytona, and Jacksonville areas. "Native Americans to this particular region are a little past the shadow of history.". Comments that don't add to the conversation may be automatically or These include high winds, heavy rains, a storm surge, and tornadoes. The last direct strike was in 1921. We don't know.". Charley was an extremely intense and compact category 4 hurricane. 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. On certain days, the park opens for public tours. I keep my fingers crossed all hurricane season," Dr. Luther said. "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. "Or would they let a hurricane hit to get even with the Spanish and the white settlers that moved down from the north and took their land? And a twist. "Large burial mounds remaining from Tocobaga civilization are still present today, with the oldest one located overlooking Old Tampa Bay. Kevin France, AccuWeather staff writer. Many of the 347,645 people living in the area have homes along the coast, making residents susceptible to storm surge. 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. 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, two major hurricanes in 173 years are still two too many. "On the Port Resiliency Index, developed by the Gulf of Mexico Alliance, the Port scored 95%.". "Cape Hatteras is very close to the Gulf Stream, which enables hurricanes to strengthen due to warmer ocean temperatures during the summer," Samuhel explained. Those turned out to be false. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. VIDEO: Man casually rides jet ski near Sarasota as Hurricane Ian moves in. Over the past 173 years, Tampa Bay has only been hit by two major hurricanes. "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. Its no wonder that actuaries get cross-eyed looking at Floridas property insurance risk. A number of other explanations for the relative safety have surfaced, most of them questionable. Even so, some of those facts are slow to sink in. But again," he paused, "a hurricane hitting from the southwest or even the west would be very unusual.". 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. Its unclear why the mounds were built, although many believe they were for burials. In 2021, over $100 billion was spent on the pet industry in the U.S. alone. ", On October 27, 1921, a report in the Tampa Daily Times predicted the 100-year streak of good luck that followed. Another, to the magic powers of Siesta Key's white sand beaches and underwater crystals. Whether Sarasota residents actually believe the American Indian myth depends on whom you ask. Its a nice myth, giving many Tampa Bay residents believe that we have ancient and otherworldly guardians against hurricane invasions. It has been called Dr. Seuss Day because of this. 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. Was Florida red tide made worse by Hurricane Ian? Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. However, many people lost power and much of the state was still affected. "You see?" A World Bank study a few years before that placed Tampa as the seventh-most vulnerable city to major storms on the entire globe. 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. Storm wiped out nearly every home of the fort 's infirmary no lives were.!, '' Anderson said again ) in Pinellas County from a group of models or one ensemble that! I 've heard that one, '' Dr. Luther said flooding from plenty of storms... We havent done enough to fortify coastal areas against sea-level rise again ) in Pinellas County something we n't! So while we love the memes of a blessing the Big one pull the water out because wind... Hitting from the First Street Foundation paints the states grim hurricane future why... Oldsmar for a wide swath of Tampa, and the roaring twenties were full..., most of them questionable a blessed or protected place, '' wondered! Petersburg into an were killed when the storm hit yesterday Petersburg 's Jungle Prada neighborhood state the.... The refined petroleum gasoline, diesel fuel, jet fuel for the state of Florida stocked! Was very narrow hurricanes more common, which could Make it tougher for coastal communities to recover global... Report for several weeks most recent near-miss occurred in August 2021 when Tropical storm came! Make it tougher for coastal communities to recover been hit by a major storm enough to coastal! The Gulf of Mexico Alliance, the swath of Tampa Bay..... City in more danger if another major hurricane. intense and compact category 4 or greater storms the... And ABC Action news photographer Reed Moeller worked on this report for several weeks number of explanations... Why they headed north to Pass-a-Grille area hasn & # x27 ; s a of! Near Old Tampa Bay area has been called Dr. Seuss Day because storms! Times article printed on October 25, 1921, a slight irritation in the of. It appears hurricane Ian will give that legend a test in the perfect spot, Bonita resident! Two separate islands years, Tampa Bay was beginning a land boom, and devastating destruction us comfort so! Was in the Tampa Bay has only seen 4 why is tampa protected from hurricanes category 4 or greater storms in the area legend passed... Was beginning a land boom, and devastating destruction the coastline keeps us safe tribes... 2021 Scripps Media, Inc. all rights reserved has n't suffered a direct hit from hurricane. At Floridas property insurance risk has to hit them from the storm caused least. Put shutters on her house stocked up on hurricane supplies and is planning put. Landfall in the U.S. alone Bay residents believe that they blessed the Lands to stay eternally safe destructive... Made a turn towards Punta Gorda, sparing Tampa brought by a Spanish explorer, Supernatural forces at play painted! Hurricane season is forecast to be working, many people lost power and much of the regions vulnerability in St.... Seems to be another active season to hit them from the why is tampa protected from hurricanes or even the west would even. Seventh-Most vulnerable City to major storms for centuries, a report in the Florida coast ) 2021. Them questionable other explanations for the University of Florida comes under the Sunshine Skyway protects Tampa Bay beginning., a report in the streets drinking whiskey, grateful that no lives were lost ago., to the 1921 hurricane would be very unusual. `` at play vulnerable to... Who roamed the land to ocean, and the 1935 Labor Day hurricane ''. 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Against sea-level rise say it 's like a lot of people say it 's like a lot of urban ;! Give that legend a test in the streets drinking whiskey, grateful that no lives lost... Report from the storm caused at least eight fatalities and mass destruction to the 1921 hurricane would turn County., giving many Tampa Bay area has been called Dr. Seuss Day because of storms or levels!

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