The NWS describes the hurricane as "the forgotten nightmare." But, the note was clear, "my family would be drowned. Copyright 2021 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. In July, Hurricane Elsa made a close pass but stayed offshore. "Technically speaking, Native Americans lived everywhere around the state," said Anne McCudden, executive director of the Seminole Tribe of Florida. 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. Comments that don't add to the conversation may be automatically or That's not going to drain out quickly," said Cathie Perkins . This large wind field is what caused all the power outages and damage. This piece of folklore came from my co-worker, who grew up in Tampa, Florida. Depends on who you ask, says Rui Farias, who knows a thing or two about local history. But the legend grows each year that goes by without a destructive storm battering the Tampa Bay area. "I think it's kind of cool. 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. "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. Thats unlikely to change anytime soon. "Their value, however, is that, in the short term, they usually show a 'path' of likely tracks for tropical storms, giving residents of those areas within the path more time to prepare.". It's been more than a century since a major storm like Ian has struck the Tampa Bay area, which blossomed from a few hundred thousand people in 1921 to more than 3 million today. 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. Ive lived here 34 years, and Ive yet to see a hurricane hit us. With climate change and sea-level rise, Dr. Luther says a storm similar to the 1921 hurricane would be even worse. Like Tampa, The Big Easy has an 11 percent chance of experiencing the impact of a hurricane in an average year. The area has seen a fair share of damaging winds and storm surge flooding from plenty of tropical storms. High winds can cause a tremendous amount of damage during a hurricane. "I was here for Donna. Especially considering this upcoming hurricane season is forecast to be another active season. Key West, like Miami, has a 16 percent chance of being impacted by a hurricane during any Atlantic hurricane season. 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. In 1848, one-third of the famous mound was washed away by a hurricane. Its easy to scream retreat! but most Florida residents live within 20 miles of the coast. Tampa is an amazing place to live, work, and visit, but like many places it is not immune to major disasters. Want next-level safety, ad-free? Many of the 347,645 people living in the area have homes along the coast, making residents susceptible to storm surge. What are those large pyramids next to the Skyway? Doris Anderson isn't necessarily one of them. A storm surge of up to 11 feet damaged and destroyed many structures along coastal locations from Pasco County south through southwest Florida. SARASOTA COUNTY -- Marcus Joel heard it from a co-worker. 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. This is no joke. Although a major hurricane is long overdue in Miami, the city has dealt with its share of intense hurricanes in the past. There were eight confirmed fatalities, nearly half because of drowning as the storm surge inundated near shore locations. Will we allow for more density in coastal high-hazard areas? Even if the hurricane makes . On Sundays, the park opens for public tours. The last time Tampa Bay was hit by a major storm was Oct. 25, 1921. According to Berardelli, hurricanes would have to make the perfect turn to the east in order to make landfall in Tampa Bay, therefore making a direct hit on the region would be somewhat difficult. And as we know by Floridas ever-growing population, people arent moving away from the risk. But, luckily, the area has avoided a major landfalling hurricane for nearly a hundred years. Storm surge maps are constantly updated. (VIAVAL/Getty Images). More than 40% of St. Petersburg is in the coastal high-hazard area. "I don't know if I believe that legend," she said. 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. 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. This westerly flow steers systems from west to east. Legends and luck are nice stories when it comes to hurricanes, but at some point Tampa Bay will be hit. 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. 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. The storm caused at least eight fatalities and mass destruction to the area. In this aerial image, the city of Tampa, Fla., is seen Monday, Sept. 26, 2022. We havent done enough to fortify coastal areas against sea-level rise. "How devastating would an impact from a hurricane similar to the 1921 storm be in today's time?" Only a couple hundred-thousand people lived in the area. (DroneBase via AP), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. It was a formidable storm, but nowhere near as strong as it could have been. About 40% of it goes into the facilities at Port Tampa Bay.". It's why they headed north to Pass-a-Grille. 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. I think were in the perfect spot, Bonita Bay resident Chris Williams told the Post. They can come from a group of models or one ensemble model that creates multiple possible storm tracks. A picture hangs in the museum showing boats outside the brick schoolhouse. 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. The storm surge pushed a wall of water inland, with waves from the bay almost breaking in the streets of Ybor City. manually removed by Facebook or AccuWeather. "It's like a lot of urban myths; there's no origin, but somehow everyone knows it," Baram said. "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. The Tampa Bay area is particularly vulnerable to hurricanes because it is located on the Gulf of Mexico. 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. Try searching for a city, zip code or point of interest. However . This article represents the opinion of the Tampa Bay Times Editorial Board. A hundred years of good luck? However, only a few have survived the development the area has undergone in modern times. "I like to believe those things are true," Farias mused. He says it's less of a blessing or a curse than it is about the science behind hurricanes. Storm survivor Ethel Swanson was 7-years-old when the storm hit. Yet for years storms seemed to bypass the region somewhat inexplicably. Heres what we know. It also once saved the life of an early settler after bringing his family to the bay to escape a storm surge. Eight people were killed when the storm hit the seaside town with 120 mph. How much should we rebuild on barrier islands? 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. Some photos were taken during the event. With reverse storm surge, especially in larger storms like Ian, the opposite happens, explained Pastelok. 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. Still, the Hurricanes have used players like Gostisbehere effectively in years past. Its almost like when a myth becomes history, Farias 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. Hurricane Gladys produced 100 mph winds in Clearwater. "I don't think we're in a blessed or protected place," Fox said while shopping at Home Depot. 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.". 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 1921 storm sent a storm surge all the way into downtown Tampa into Ybor. 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. "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. 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. All of these hurricanes would have had devastating impacts on Tampa Bay but veered off course and missed. "But it was still a hurricane and caused lots of damage.". On one hand, we avoided catastrophe and had an incredible amount of canceled school days. 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. "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. "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.". "In order for Tampa to get a direct landfall, the storm has to hit them from the southwest," Kottlowski said. Since it seems to be working, many people still believe in the legend. When buying cowboy boots, there are a few aspects to consider, such as how far up they go on your legs and their design. "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. 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. If you use a windshield cover, you can at least forget about scrapping the ice off your windshield to save some time and hassle. Just as an example, the city of Tampa had about 51,000 residents in 1920. On Nov. 14, 1993, during Founder's Day she talked about her memories of the storm. "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. "As they are in this two-story building, the water is rising even higher, and you know this was a kid's account talking about it. ", Miami & Fisher Island from 500 feet (Flickr Photo/Mohd Althani). Profanity, personal The two which affected the Bay Area were Charley and Irma. That was the 1921 Tampa Bay Hurricane. 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. 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. Although the timeline is somewhat unclear, the tribe had been completely wiped out some time before 1800. 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. "I think the Indians would have known because they were so in tune with God and nature," he said. In the Tampa Bay Area, only 2 of the above catastrophic hurricanes impacted the area - Charley and Irma. 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. The area hit the hardest is where the Sparkman Channel and Ybor Channel meet, next to Port Tampa Bay. "It would be catastrophic. Over the past century, there have been several close calls. For Florida, the challenge is so massive as to seem intractable. 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. A report from the First Street Foundation paints the states grim hurricane future. "That'll be good," LaMarre said. A new study warns that hurricanes are getting more dangerous because of climate change. "But I don't know.". A Pinellas resident for 45 years, she was waiting for Irma to make a turn like Hurricane Charley did in 2004. ", On October 27, 1921, a report in the Tampa Daily Times predicted the 100-year streak of good luck that followed. A family was rushing to higher ground as the storm surge came in. The oldest remaining one is located near Old Tampa Bay. 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. The western coast of Florida has endured its share of hurricanes, and the city of Tampa is no exception. ", In the Tarpon Springs Leader, the newspaper rejoiced following the passing of the storm, "Sponge Boats Safe; No Greek Life Lost. 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. "I've heard that one," she said. A storm like the 1921 hurricane would turn Pinellas County from a peninsula into two separate islands. Local legend has it that mounds built by the Tocobaga tribe hundreds of years ago, protected the area from major storms for centuries. The Tampa Bay area hasn't suffered a direct hit from a hurricane since 1929. 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. "Like Miami, Tampa is a large metropolitan area and the effects of a hurricane would be widespread throughout the city," Samuhel explained. Was Florida red tide made worse by Hurricane Ian? Not able to get out. MaryAnn Kruse, a volunteer at the Oldsmar Historical Society housed inside the historic Oldsmar Bank, showed us a piece of debris from the storm. Because the system was so tight, it was able to remain intense far inland, even into southern and eastern portions of the Bay Area. "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. That nearly league-minimum salary is exactly why the Lightning had to pay so much, and continues their trend of acquiring players with team control. Dr. Luther said there are also chemicals for the phosphate industry and refined ammonium stored at the port. It appears Hurricane Ian will give that legend a test in the coming days. Everything underwater, massive flooding," Dr. Luther said. "A lot of people say it's the Indian mounds," Farias replied. 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. 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. Even so, some of those facts are slow to sink in. 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. Report from the risk during any Atlantic hurricane season from major storms for centuries next to the Skyway to. 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Times predicted the 100-year streak of good luck that followed Bay was hit by a hurricane one model. Was Florida red tide made worse by hurricane Ian is in the legend grows each that... Major storm was Oct. 25, 1921 and Ybor Channel meet, next to Port Tampa Bay ``!

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