She stocked up on hurricane supplies and is planning to put shutters on her house. 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. VIDEO: Man casually rides jet ski near Sarasota as Hurricane Ian moves in. "Could it be people from the past protecting the present?" 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" We wanted to find hidden stories and report on the past as if the storm hit yesterday. "But I don't know.". The City of Oldsmar posting the video on YouTube. If it has anything to do with Indians and hurricanes, it's not true. It derailed the railroad in that area which was obviously a significant impact to travel commerce and people coming into the area. 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. There are urban legends that the Sunshine Skyway protects Tampa Bay. Did the Native Americans Hurricane-Proof Manatee County? The Burgert Brothers Photographic Collection at the Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative contained the most pictures of the storm. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Storm surge maps are constantly updated. Its a nice myth, giving many Tampa Bay residents believe that we have ancient and otherworldly guardians against hurricane invasions. On Nov. 14, 1993, during Founder's Day she talked about her memories of the storm. 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. Or, the American Indians who once. After all, they are called barriers for a reason. 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 is an amazing place to live, work, and visit, but like many places it is not immune to major disasters. 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. The western coast of Florida has endured its share of hurricanes, and the city of Tampa is no exception. The company Elev8 Fun will open its next location at Citrus Park Mall. 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. A World Bank study a few years before that placed Tampa as the seventh-most vulnerable city to major storms on the entire globe. According to NOAA, a hurricane makes landfall within 50 miles of New Orleans about once every seven to 11 years. It also once saved the life of an early settler after bringing his family to the bay to escape a storm surge. 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. The last direct strike was in 1921. Or, the American Indians who once lived here blessed this place and made it safe from hurricanes. Fox, of Nokomis, who has lived in the area since 1959, shakes her head. Many of the 347,645 people living in the area have homes along the coast, making residents susceptible to storm surge. Most recently in 2004, Hurricane Charley caused $16 billion in damages when the Category 4 storm made landfall just south of Tampa. And areas just miles away from the storm like Sarasota, St. Pete and Tampa did not even experience hurricane force gusts. Most people fall into that zone, where they may have lived through Irma or Charley or even Andrew, and even sustained extensive damage, but they were dozens of miles from the center. "I think the Indians would have known because they were so in tune with God and nature," he said. "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. The primitive way of tracking storms in the 1920s would prove deadly for some. For Florida, the challenge is so massive as to seem intractable. There were several reports that Key West was destroyed. But, two major hurricanes in 173 years are still two too many. During our research, we came across a heartbreaking story of survival, death, and devastating destruction. 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. 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. "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 (1.5 and 3. 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. 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. 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. "It really tells us two things. It would not have taken too much of pattern a shift for that to happen. Especially considering this upcoming hurricane season is forecast to be another active season. Another, to the magic powers of Siesta Key's white sand beaches and underwater crystals. Jeannot will be a restricted free agent this summer and . 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. We don't know.". The bottom line is, most people who live in the state have never experienced the full wrath of major hurricane. A family was rushing to higher ground as the storm surge came in. Charley was an extremely intense and compact category 4 hurricane. Over the past century, there have been several close calls. "I don't think we're in a blessed or protected place," Fox said while shopping at Home Depot. Outside of that radius, the winds are significantly lighter and not nearly as damaging. We spent hours at the John F. Germany Public Library in downtown Tampa combing through newspapers on microfilm. In 2004 Hurricane Charley made landfall near Punta Gorda, south of the Bay Area. And next week, forecasters are predicting yet another one within striking distance. Or is there a supernatural force protecting us? Its been over a century since a major hurricane (category 3 or greater) has made landfall in the Tampa Bay Area. Dr. Luther said there are also chemicals for the phosphate industry and refined ammonium stored at the port. When asked about a myth spreading around town, county archaeologist Dan Hughes jumped in: "Let me guess. 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 findings highlight a counterintuitive effect of . The mounds were used as temples, homes and burial grounds. In 2021, over $100 billion was spent on the pet industry in the U.S. alone. Copyright 2021 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. It could have been because of storms or mosquito levels. Hurricane Irma is the most recent in 2017. With climate change and sea-level rise, Dr. Luther says a storm similar to the 1921 hurricane would be even worse. 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. The 1921 storm sent a storm surge all the way into downtown Tampa into Ybor. In general, cyclones moving over the Gulf of Mexico had a tendency of passing well north of Tampa, the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration said in report on the 1921 storm. But, luckily, the area has avoided a major landfalling hurricane for nearly a hundred years. 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. Downed power lines in Ybor City, the trolley line washed away along Bayshore Boulevard, flooded homes in Hyde Park, and docks and boats washed ashore along where the current Tampa Riverwalk now runs. "Cape Hatteras is very close to the Gulf Stream, which enables hurricanes to strengthen due to warmer ocean temperatures during the summer," Samuhel explained. Legends and luck are nice stories when it comes to hurricanes, but at some point Tampa Bay will be hit. Many people think the mounds could be providing supernatural protection from hurricanes. But again," he paused, "a hurricane hitting from the southwest or even the west would be very unusual.". It's a connection she believes is the reason why Tampa Bay hasn't seen a direct Hurricane hit since 1989. 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. Hurricane Katrina (2005) is a prime example of the damage and devastation that can be caused by surge. This is life-threatening storm surge.. Doris Anderson isn't necessarily one of them. Storm Team 8s Chief Meteorologist Jeff Berardelli explained. Tocobagan Indian Mounds have been found in Safety Harbor and near the Gandy. Hurricane Gladys produced 100 mph winds in Clearwater. Those Tocobagan mounds can only hold back so many storms. Turn them in to HCSO Valentines. But many still believe the blessing protects us. Like Tampa, The Big Easy has an 11 percent chance of experiencing the impact of a hurricane in an average year. Lauren Fox, AccuWeather staff writer. 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. "That's a lot of rain. The faded ink had several names at the top that were illegible. 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. The oldest remaining one is located near Old Tampa Bay. For more safety and preparedness tips, visit AccuWeather.com/Ready. However, only a few have survived the development the area has undergone in modern times. It appears Hurricane Ian will give that legend a test in the coming days. Many believe it protects them from hurricanes, even though Hurricane Wilma blew through town just two years ago. Nevertheless it managed to produce extensive damage and power outages. 4 things you can do for your health, The State of Black Tampa Bay: An Exclusive Town Hall, Ybor speakeasy honors Madame Fortune Taylor, Ex got a warrant? We have updated our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. 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