Copyright 2021 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. In a St. Petersburg Times article printed on October 27, 1921, the headline read "Tragic Death Attends Gale.". "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. "The Spaniards called them gentle giants and said they were. But, two major hurricanes in 173 years are still two too many. Tony DeAngelo , for instance, put up 51 points in 64 games with the club last season before they cut him loose. A storm surge of up to 11 feet damaged and destroyed many structures along coastal locations from Pasco County south through southwest Florida. Not since the Tarpon Springs hurricane struck the region in 1921 has Tampa Bay been directly hit by a major storm. "The signature storm for the West Coast of Florida, especially the Tampa Bay area, is the October 25, 1921 storm. What are those large pyramids next to the Skyway? In those villages, the tribe would build mounds made of layers of shells and sand. The company Elev8 Fun will open its next location at Citrus Park Mall. Ive lived here 34 years, and Ive yet to see a hurricane hit us. In fact, historians have no idea which tribes even lived in Sarasota County. 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. Turn them in to HCSO Valentines. Why here? A Pinellas resident for 45 years, she was waiting for Irma to make a turn like Hurricane Charley did in 2004. Even so, some of those facts are slow to sink in. . "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.". A World Bank study a few years before that placed Tampa as the seventh-most vulnerable city to major storms on the entire globe. Or, the American Indians who once. 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. However . 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. In the case of Charley Desoto, Hardee and Polk counties all experienced winds gusts well over 100 mph, causing catastrophic damage. Nevertheless, with more than 50 percent of the city living below sea level and the rapid sinking of marshy coastal land in southeastern Louisiana, New Orleans still remains highly vulnerable to storm surge during a major hurricane. We havent done enough to fortify coastal areas against sea-level rise. "Spaghetti plots" are collections of potential forecast tracks for tropical stormsbased on slightly different possible weather conditions. On October 25, 1921, the Tampa Bay Area suffered the most destructive hurricane to hit the area since the 1800s. The National Read Across America Day takes place every year on March 2, Geisels birthday. 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). "This is a very rare track for a hurricane. Many people think the mounds could be providing supernatural protection from hurricanes. The most recent near-miss occurred in August 2021 when Tropical Storm Fred came within 195 miles of Tampa. Doris Anderson isn't necessarily one of them. A storm like the 1921 hurricane would turn Pinellas County from a peninsula into two separate islands. This large wind field is what caused all the power outages and damage. told the Washington Post in 2017 following Hurricane Irma. Did the Native Americans Hurricane-Proof Manatee County? Whether Sarasota residents actually believe the American Indian myth depends on whom you ask. It derailed the railroad in that area which was obviously a significant impact to travel commerce and people coming into the area. In July, Hurricane Elsa made a close pass but stayed offshore. 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. "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. Did American Indians who roamed the land centuries ago protect Pinellas with a blessing? "It really tells us two things. Some estimates are as much as 15 feet of storm surge. "It gets passed down from neighbor to neighbor.". "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. "Do they want to protect their burial mounds," Farias wondered in the interview. (VIAVAL/Getty Images). "I think the Indians would have known because they were so in tune with God and nature," he said. However, that doesnt stop locals from looking for answers. The highest storm surge was in the downtown Tampa and Tarpon Springs areas. The third strike against the myth: If the American Indians did believe Sarasota was protected, more of them might have lived here. It made landfall near Tarpon Springs just north of Tampa Bay, killing eight. We keep building in the most storm-prone areas. 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 have no idea. 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. Hurricane-force winds can destroy mobile homes and buildings. 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 it wasn't a catastrophic hit, and thus belief in something otherworldy protecting the area from a hurricane's worst wrath persists. As time goes on, it comes true.. It made landfall in Big Pine Key as a category 4, causing devastating damage. Or is there a supernatural force protecting us? One of the nation's largest fully excavated native burial grounds, at Historic Spanish Point in Osprey, offers few additional clues, only that people lived in the area as early as 3,000 B.C. Tampa Bay has had some close calls with hurricanes. This westerly flow steers systems from west to east. A myth has grown over the last century that Native American mounds are protecting the Tampa Bay area from major hurricanes. One gives credit to nature's fortunate placement of dunes off the coast. "Could it be people from the past protecting the present?" "Cape Hatteras is very close to the Gulf Stream, which enables hurricanes to strengthen due to warmer ocean temperatures during the summer," Samuhel explained. And two, we wonder why we're lucky.". 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.. It would not have taken too much of pattern a shift for that to happen. Tampa is an amazing place to live, work, and visit, but like many places it is not immune to major disasters. In the Village of Cortez, the storm wiped out nearly every home of the small fishing village. 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. We got a tour of the Pinellas County Emergency Operations Center. There is no found scientific reason hurricanes seem to avoid the area. 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. With climate change and sea-level rise, Dr. Luther says a storm similar to the 1921 hurricane would be even worse. "The probabilities are based upon 126 years of hurricane data and storm paths dating back to the 1800s," AccuWeather Hurricane Expert Dan Kottlowski said. manually removed by Facebook or AccuWeather. Although a major hurricane is long overdue in Miami, the city has dealt with its share of intense hurricanes in the past. If you use a windshield cover, you can at least forget about scrapping the ice off your windshield to save some time and hassle. Now, the tourist-friendly region known for its sugar-sand beaches has grown by leaps and bounds, with homes and businesses along the water the ideal locations most of the time. Its one of the most populated areas on Floridas Gulf Coast, but hasnt had a direct hit from a landfalling hurricane in 100 years. On October 25, 1921, the Tampa Bay Area suffered the most destructive hurricane to hit the area since the 1800s. Even if the hurricane makes . These include high winds, heavy rains, a storm surge, and tornadoes. Have the app? | Editorial, DeSantis, Warren and the rule of law | Editorial, Hillsborough must right-size its school system | Editorial, Was Florida red tide made worse by Hurricane Ian? Those figures are based on a Tampa . Based upon data from NOAAs Hurricane Research Division, here are the top five most vulnerable U.S. cities to hurricanes. 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. Try searching for a city, zip code or point of interest. 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. It made landfall in Big Pine Key as a. The National Read Across America Day takes place every year on March 2, Geisels birthday. If it has anything to do with Indians and hurricanes, it's not true. We have updated our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. Lauren Fox, AccuWeather staff writer. This piece of folklore came from my co-worker, who grew up in Tampa, Florida. "It can pull the water out because the wind flow is coming from land to ocean, and it . "That just added huge credibility to this myth," Farias said. At least eight people died and damage was estimated at $5 million at the time. Unfortunately, where the hurricane of 1921 hit just north of Tampa Bay was a worst-case scenario. Lets take a deeper look at just how often Tampa Bay avoids a direct hit from hurricanes. In any given year, there are some U.S. cities that are at higher risk than others to experience the impacts of a hurricane. In Tampa, 1 in 9 could see flooding from Category 1 storms. The story goes something like this, with the emphasis on "something.". Others believe that they blessed the lands to stay eternally safe from destructive storms and hurricanes. Its a nice myth, giving many Tampa Bay residents believe that we have ancient and otherworldly guardians against hurricane invasions. So while we love the memes of a carefree Tampa: Make sure to prepare for every hurricane. 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