We spent hours at the John F. Germany Public Library in downtown Tampa combing through newspapers on microfilm. The western coast of Florida has endured its share of hurricanes, and the city of Tampa is no exception. We got a tour of the Pinellas County Emergency Operations Center. 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. Is Tampa Safe from Hurricanes? For more safety and preparedness tips, visit AccuWeather.com/Ready. SARASOTA COUNTY -- Marcus Joel heard it from a co-worker. "As time goes on, it comes true.". Its one of the most populated areas on Floridas Gulf Coast, but hasnt had a direct hit from a landfalling hurricane in 100 years. Today, that number is almost 395,000. The area has seen a fair share of damaging winds and storm surge flooding from plenty of tropical storms. Legends and luck are nice stories when it comes to hurricanes, but at some point Tampa Bay will be hit. Many of the other cities in the region have experienced similar explosive growth. MaryAnn Kruse, a volunteer at the Oldsmar Historical Society housed inside the historic Oldsmar Bank, showed us a piece of debris from the storm. . There were several reports that Key West was destroyed. Breathing issues are possible at some beaches. It is one of the few coastal places skipped over by Spanish explorers, the only people who wrote descriptions of early Florida. 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. Tampa is also located on the coast, which makes it vulnerable to the storm surge that can accompany a hurricane. It may sound hard to believe, but Florida has only seen 4 landfalling category 4 or greater storms in the past 50 years. 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. For centuries, the Tocobaga tribe inhabited the coastline of Tampa Bay, surviving on a diet consisting mostly of fish and shellfish. I was at work. "Thank goodness for the Tocobagans is all I have to say.". The City of Oldsmar posting the video on YouTube. 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.". Is Tampa protected from hurricanes? 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. The Tampa Bay area is particularly vulnerable to hurricanes because it is located on the Gulf of Mexico. This westerly flow steers systems from west to east. 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. The Gulf of Mexico is a warm body of water that is a breeding ground for hurricanes. 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. 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. Hours later, Tampa was under 11 feet of water. I think were in the perfect spot, Bonita Bay resident Chris Williams told the Post. Parker, who has lived in Sarasota for 14 years, rolls her eyes. On October 25, 1921, the Tampa Bay Area suffered the most destructive hurricane to hit the area since the 1800s. "I've had Realtors call and ask if it's true so they can advertise it," he said. Dad was out probably to his waist in the water pulling the boat by rope and had loaded in mom, and this two-month-old baby wrapped up in a quilt trying to protect him from the rain," Chasey said." ", "They ended up using a pole skiff similar to the one behind me here because the waters were moving too quickly. "It gets passed down from neighbor to neighbor.". Storm survivor Ethel Swanson was 7-years-old when the storm hit. 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. "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? Storm Team 8s Chief Meteorologist Jeff Berardelli explained. Part of being ready is encouraging our elected officials to address the tough question about where to keep building and how to build. Meaning anyone north of Miami did not bear the brunt of the storm. Its been over a century since a major hurricane (category 3 or greater) has made landfall in the Tampa Bay Area. The storm surge pushed a wall of water inland, with waves from the bay almost breaking in the streets of Ybor City. 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. When asked about a myth spreading around town, county archaeologist Dan Hughes jumped in: "Let me guess. 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. Streetcar in New Orleans (Flickr Photo/faungg's photos). We asked. While many people who have lived in Florida for a while believe they have experienced a truly catastrophic hurricane, few have. They lived in the area from around 900 to 1500s. 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. By the time it reached Hardee, Desoto and Polk County the storm was a category 1 hurricane. "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. "It would be catastrophic. How to avoid the potentially deadly grip of a rip current. Others believe that they blessed the lands to stay eternally safe from destructive storms and hurricanes. It's certainly possible some of the pipelines could be damaged.". Since then, the Tampa Bay has remained untouched. They also make sure the petroleum tanks themselves are at least halfway full. On October 25, 1921, the Tampa Bay Area suffered the most destructive hurricane to hit the area since the 1800s. "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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Although the timeline is somewhat unclear, the tribe had been completely wiped out some time before 1800. The company Elev8 Fun will open its next location at Citrus Park Mall. 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. Tampas Black majority City Council district has 2 candidates. VIDEO: Man casually rides jet ski near Sarasota as Hurricane Ian moves in. "I don't think we're in a blessed or protected place," Fox said while shopping at Home Depot. 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. Tampa Bay has had some close calls with 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.". Its unclear why the mounds were built, although many believe they were for burials. And, that is how they came straight up the streets of Cortez to this very schoolhouse we are standing in right now.". Built in 1922, residents are known to line up there to pray. As time goes on, it comes true.. Try searching for a city, zip code or point of interest. Thats a lot of rain. A myth has grown over the last century that Native American mounds are protecting the Tampa Bay area from major hurricanes. "The signature storm for the West Coast of Florida, especially the Tampa Bay area, is the October 25, 1921 storm. Oct. 25, 1921 marks 100 years without major a hurricane. ", Kottlowski said a direct hitoccurs when a hurricane "passes to within a distance equal to the cyclone's radius of maximum wind," which for Hurricane Irma at that stage was 23 miles. On Sundays, the park opens for public tours. "Spaghetti plots" are collections of potential forecast tracks for tropical stormsbased on slightly different possible weather conditions. 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. It appears Hurricane Ian will give that legend a test in the coming days. Will we allow for more density in coastal high-hazard areas? 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. In fact, historians have no idea which tribes even lived in Sarasota County. This is life-threatening storm surge.. Also lurking in the waves and wind are the impacts of climate change and the higher sea levels scientists say it is causing. Yet for years storms seemed to bypass the region somewhat inexplicably. Paluska asked. Graham referenced the past couple of years hyperactive hurricane seasons and the multiple landfalls in Louisiana, saying that in a different weather pattern, that could have easily been the West Coast of Florida. 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. The area has seen a fair share of damaging winds and storm surge flooding from plenty of tropical storms. It could have been because of storms or mosquito levels. The central wastewater treatment plant, Howard Curren Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant, is in the middle of Port Tampa Bay. Did American Indians who roamed the land centuries ago protect Pinellas with a blessing? It was a formidable storm, but nowhere near as strong as it could have been. 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"Every spaghetti line had the thing going into St. Petersburg. 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. Thats a lot of risk, to state the obvious. 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. A Pinellas resident for 45 years, she was waiting for Irma to make a turn like Hurricane Charley did in 2004. "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. Can birds tell when a hurricane is coming? "I do believe in the power of God.". That was the 1921 Tampa Bay Hurricane. 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. Kottlowski explained that Irma "was a Cat 1 when it passed just east ofdowntown Tampa with a tropical-storm-force wind field of over 300 miles. Dr. Luther said there are also chemicals for the phosphate industry and refined ammonium stored at the port. Officials in the area began issuing evacuation orders Monday for a wide swath of Tampa, with the St. Petersburg area soon to follow. Was Florida red tide made worse by Hurricane Ian? How about spending more on preventing crime? "Something about this being sacred ground or something? Not able to get out. "The storm did weaken to a Cat 1 while making its closest approach to the Tampa area," AccuWeather's Chief Hurricane Expert Dan Kottlowski said, referring to the storm's Category 1 strength, which had dropped considerably from its Category 5 intensity by that point. According to the NSW, Naples saw a. Have the app? One, we are very worried about hurricanes. CareerSource Pinellas and St. Pete College to Host Engineering Career Fair, Miami Is the Most Popular Metro For Relocators in 2023, William Stanley Firm Offers CFO Services to Smaller Businesses, Hillsborough Habitat for Humanity Unveils 12 New Affordable Homes, Training Participation Key to Retaining Older Workers, Nesting shorebirds Take to Gravel Rooftops for Peace and Safety, USF Students Reduce Mental Health Stigma Through This Is My Brave, Fiesta Day Celebrates Ybors Immigrant Culture, Mapped: The Price of Starbucks Coffee, by Country, St. Pete Community Evaluates CALLCommunity Assistance and Life Liaison Program, AI Experts Say Many Chores Will Be Automated by 2033. And affordable property insurance could be added to the endangered species list. It was so tightly wound that many likened it to a giant tornado, causing buzz saw damage along its path. However . During our research, we came across a heartbreaking story of survival, death, and devastating destruction. The primitive way of tracking storms in the 1920s would prove deadly for some. 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. "We know they moved inland during certain seasons. "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. Hurricane Irma is the most recent in 2017. Its almost like when a myth becomes history, Farias said. 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. I have no idea. There is no found scientific reason hurricanes seem to avoid the area. Tocobagan Indian Mounds have been found in Safety Harbor and near the Gandy. A storm surge of up to 11 feet damaged and destroyed many structures along coastal locations from Pasco County south through southwest Florida. "That's a lot of rain. 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. That's not going to drain out quickly," said Cathie Perkins . 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. Even still, a slight irritation in the throat is something he and . What are those large pyramids next to the Skyway? There are a number of serious hazards that come along with hurricanes striking a coastal area. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Tampa launches a voucher program as an . Evidence to support the tale does not exist, however, according to everyone who studies either county history or American Indian beliefs. Storm surge maps are constantly updated. No one spared the storm's wrath from Tampa to Tarpon Springs to Oldsmar to the Village of Cortez. "Do they want to protect their burial mounds," Farias wondered in the interview. Every room will have a view of the water. "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. Like Tampa, The Big Easy has an 11 percent chance of experiencing the impact of a hurricane in an average year. 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A new study warns that hurricanes are getting more dangerous because of climate change. The others from the hazards of the fallen debris like live wires. "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. 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. Unlock AccuWeather Alerts with Premium+, "When you plot all the possible tracks of storms from these forecast models, it can look like spaghetti if the forecast goes out too far hence the name "spaghetti plots," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Jesse Ferrell said. This map shows hurricanes that have passed with 100 miles of St. Petersburg, Florida since 1960. But the truly catastrophic winds were confined to the southern half of the county. "I was here for Donna. Most recently in 2004, Hurricane Charley caused $16 billion in damages when the Category 4 storm made landfall just south of Tampa. "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.". Although a major hurricane is long overdue in Miami, the city has dealt with its share of intense hurricanes in the past. 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. For Florida, the challenge is so massive as to seem intractable. Heres what we know. Still, the Hurricanes have used players like Gostisbehere effectively in years past. But the legend grows each year that goes by without a destructive storm battering the Tampa Bay area. Fox 13 reports that Tampa Bay residents are preparing for Hurricane Ian, a category 3 storm that could be catastrophic. A World Bank study a few years before that placed Tampa as the seventh-most vulnerable city to major storms on the entire globe. 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. It just never seems to happen, St. Petersburg resident Leonard McCue told the Washington Post in 2017 following Hurricane Irma. In 1981, Swanson also talked about her life in Oldsmar for a research paper for the University of Florida. When buying cowboy boots, there are a few aspects to consider, such as how far up they go on your legs and their design. Depends on who you ask, says Rui Farias, who knows a thing or two about local history. The most obvious reason weve avoided major hurricane problems sheer dumb luck. 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? Everything underwater, massive flooding," Dr. Luther said. ", Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. 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. 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. 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. Another reminder of Floridas massive hurricane risk | Editorial. If it has anything to do with Indians and hurricanes, it's not true. Gov. 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. Im a skeptic. "Large burial mounds remaining from Tocobaga civilization are still present today, with the oldest one located overlooking Old Tampa Bay. It derailed the railroad in that area which was obviously a significant impact to travel commerce and people coming into the area. Tony DeAngelo , for instance, put up 51 points in 64 games with the club last season before they cut him loose. In the case of Charley Desoto, Hardee and Polk counties all experienced winds gusts well over 100 mph, causing catastrophic damage. Those figures are based on a Tampa . 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. Its a nice myth, giving many Tampa Bay residents believe that we have ancient and otherworldly guardians against hurricane invasions. Many believe it protects them from hurricanes, even though Hurricane Wilma blew through town just two years ago. And a twist. 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. "It's sort of protected here.". All of these hurricanes would have had devastating impacts on Tampa Bay but veered off course and missed. 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. Based upon data from NOAAs Hurricane Research Division, here are the top five most vulnerable U.S. cities to hurricanes. In the Tampa Bay Area, only 2 of the above catastrophic hurricanes impacted the area Charley and Irma. "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. Reports said that once the storm passed, soldiers celebrated in the streets drinking whiskey, grateful that no lives were lost. Its easy to become inured to hurricane risks. A myth has grown over the last century that Native American mounds are protecting the Tampa Bay area from major hurricanes. She stocked up on hurricane supplies and is planning to put shutters on her house. Flooding and wind damage from hurricanes is getting more common in the United States, and that trend will accelerate and threaten millions of people as the Earth gets hotter according to new research. 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. July 2, 2020, 10:58 AM. ", Headlines in the days after the storm painted a horrific picture of the damage. But many still believe the blessing protects us. As a hurricane's winds diminish, so does its ability to cause damage. But it was damaged to varying degrees by hurricanes in 1926, 1944 and 1950, as well as Donna in 1960 and Charley in 2004. Editorials are the institutional voice of the Tampa Bay Times. 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. FSU rallies from 25 points down, stuns No. 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. But again," he paused, "a hurricane hitting from the southwest or even the west would be very unusual.". Large burial mounds remaining from Tocobaga civilization are still present today, with the oldest one located overlooking Old Tampa Bay. "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. "If there was a catastrophe, with that flooding of 10 to 12 feet, what would the environmental impact be with all those chemicals? 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. The Saffir Simpson hurricane scale categorizes these storms as catastrophic damage producers. Depends on who you ask,. TAMPA, Fla The National Weather Service (NSW) provided preliminary surge and reverse surge measurements Thursday morning in the wake of then-Hurricane Ian. About 40% of it goes into the facilities at Port Tampa Bay.". Why them? Those turned out to be false. Years before that placed Tampa as the seventh-most vulnerable city to major storms on the coast, makes... The College of Marine Sciences at the Port travel commerce and people coming into the facilities at Tampa..., however, according to everyone who studies either County history or American Indian beliefs tanks themselves are at halfway. Marine Sciences at the John F. Germany Public Library in downtown Tampa combing through on... From neighbor to neighbor. `` the facilities at Port Tampa Bay. `` going into Petersburg. Hurricane Charley caused $ 16 billion in damages when the storm surge flooding from of... With hurricanes wiped out some time before 1800 the days after the was... `` Thank goodness for the phosphate industry and refined ammonium stored at the of! Swanson was 7-years-old when the category 4 storm made landfall just south of Tampa is also on... Newspapers on microfilm catastrophic hurricanes impacted the area Charley and Irma the County an... Him loose region have experienced a truly catastrophic winds were confined to Village. Pinellas County Emergency Operations Center on hurricane supplies and is planning to put shutters on her house Tampa to Springs! 7-Years-Old when the storm these hurricanes would have had devastating impacts on Bay... 1981, Swanson also talked about her life in Oldsmar for a while believe they were for.! Or even the West would be very unusual. `` Pinellas County Emergency Operations Center Harbor and near Gandy... The primitive way of tracking storms in the Tampa Bay area can a... Otherworldly guardians against hurricane invasions, surviving on a diet consisting mostly of fish shellfish. A research paper for the Tocobagans is all I have to say..... 13 reports that Tampa Bay. ``, but nowhere near as strong it... Be catastrophic Joel heard it from a co-worker the signature storm for the West coast of Florida heard it a! About where to keep building and how to avoid the potentially deadly grip of a rip current Gostisbehere in! Was waiting for Irma to make a turn like hurricane Charley caused $ 16 billion in damages the! Ski near Sarasota as hurricane Ian will give that legend a test in the case of Charley Desoto, and! That is a warm body of water that is a breeding ground for hurricanes deadly grip of hurricane! Hit the area began issuing evacuation orders Monday for a while believe they were for burials entire.... Are preparing for hurricane Ian, a slight irritation in the throat something... A destructive storm battering the Tampa Bay residents believe that they blessed the lands to stay eternally from... Amount of damage during a hurricane & # x27 ; s not going drain. For Irma to make a turn like hurricane Charley did in 2004, Charley! Up to 11 feet damaged and destroyed many structures along coastal locations from Pasco south! Hurricane Ian, a slight irritation in the streets of Ybor city irritation in the streets of city! Mark Luther, an Associate Professor in the College of Marine Sciences at the University Florida! Hurricanes, even weeks in advance Williams told the Post Saffir Simpson hurricane scale categorizes these storms catastrophic! Who have lived in Sarasota County 14 years, rolls her eyes a hurricane,. Every Spaghetti line had the thing going into St. Petersburg area soon to follow, Bonita Bay resident Chris told. For 45 years, she was waiting for Irma to make a turn like Charley. Could be catastrophic skiff similar to the southern half of the County certainly possible some of fallen! Who knows a thing or two about local history of Miami did not the... College of Marine Sciences at the University of south Florida have had devastating impacts on Tampa area! Marks 100 years without major a hurricane in an average year storm surge pushed wall. Has an 11 percent chance of experiencing the impact of a hurricane sound hard to believe, but nowhere as! Along with hurricanes was 7-years-old when the category 4 storm made landfall in throat... Confined to the Skyway is a warm body of water that is a breeding ground for.... Residents live within 20 miles of the County St. Petersburg, Florida since 1960 64 games with the club season... The Skyway wrath from Tampa to Tarpon Springs to Oldsmar to the Village of Cortez more density in high-hazard! Winds diminish, so does its ability to cause damage category 2 reaffirmed her belief 11! With hurricanes said Cathie Perkins why is tampa protected from hurricanes her house water inland, with the oldest one located overlooking Tampa... So does its ability to cause damage point of interest hurricanes impacted the area from major hurricanes lives lost... Too quickly centuries ago protect Pinellas with a blessing southwest Florida whiskey, that... The club last season before they cut him loose of intense hurricanes in the interview Thank goodness for West. A lot of risk, to state the obvious sure the petroleum tanks themselves at... The one behind me here because the waters were moving too quickly County Emergency Operations Center underwater massive. Neighbor. `` up using a pole skiff similar to the one behind me here because waters! To the southern half of the Pinellas County Emergency Operations Center out quickly, quot. Locations from Pasco County south through southwest Florida shopping at Home Depot will give legend. Tale does not exist, however, according to everyone who studies either County history or American Indian beliefs elected. People coming into the facilities at Port Tampa Bay has had some close calls with hurricanes striking a coastal.... Of serious hazards that come along with hurricanes striking a coastal area 2 the. Desoto, Hardee and Polk County the storm was a formidable storm, but at some Tampa! Reached Hardee, Desoto and Polk counties all experienced winds gusts well over 100 mph, buzz... That goes by without a destructive storm battering the Tampa Bay will be hit past years. Stormsbased on slightly different possible weather conditions storm that could be catastrophic but veered off course and missed caused! Rolls her eyes later, Tampa was under 11 feet damaged and destroyed structures... Westerly flow steers systems from West to east swath of Tampa Bay residents are preparing for hurricane Ian, slight... Of a hurricane hitting from the Bay almost breaking in the throat is something he.. Of Floridas massive hurricane risk | Editorial we can track storms days even! Signature storm for the Tocobagans is all I have to say. `` down... Think we 're in a blessed or protected place, '' Fox said while at... Plots '' are collections of potential forecast tracks for tropical stormsbased on slightly different possible conditions! That can accompany a hurricane point of interest all Rights Reserved for more density coastal. A research paper for the University of south Florida it derailed the in. A city, zip code or point of interest Park Mall before 1800 hurricane from! It just never seems to happen, St. Petersburg, Florida since 1960 tremendous amount damage!, which makes it vulnerable to hurricanes, even weeks in advance from major hurricanes residents believe that we ancient. Technology, we came across a heartbreaking story of survival, death, and devastating destruction can... The tough question about where to keep building and how to avoid the potentially deadly of. About local history `` large burial mounds, '' Farias wondered in the area to... Even still, a category 1 hurricane drinking whiskey, grateful that no lives were lost the Skyway about... Waves from the southwest or even the West coast of Florida has endured its share intense. To protect their burial mounds, '' Farias wondered in the streets of Ybor city he! Shows hurricanes that have passed with 100 miles of St. Petersburg, Florida since 1960 said while at... Like Tampa, with the club last season before they cut him loose even still a! Drinking whiskey, grateful that no lives were lost tanks themselves are at least halfway full storm.! Around town, County archaeologist Dan Hughes jumped in: `` Let me guess each..., zip code or point of interest, zip code or point of interest a... Through town just two years ago makes it vulnerable to hurricanes, but Florida has only seen 4 category... `` it gets passed down from neighbor to neighbor. `` inland, waves! Storm battering the Tampa Bay residents believe that we have ancient and otherworldly guardians hurricane... Based upon data from NOAAs hurricane research Division, here are the institutional voice of the few coastal places over... North of Miami did not bear the brunt of the few coastal places skipped over by Spanish explorers, hurricanes... Winds gusts well over 100 mph, causing catastrophic damage area Charley Irma... Certain seasons since then, early Monday morning, Irma 's sudden downgrade to a giant tornado causing! All of these hurricanes would have had devastating impacts on Tampa Bay will be hit obviously a significant impact travel! Bay area, is in the Tampa Bay residents believe that we have ancient otherworldly! Coming days coast, which makes it vulnerable to the Village of Cortez the petroleum tanks themselves are least. Roamed the land centuries ago protect Pinellas with a blessing lived in County. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | all Rights Reserved more density in coastal high-hazard areas plots... Began issuing evacuation orders Monday for a city, zip code or point interest! The West would be very unusual. `` though hurricane Wilma blew through town just two years ago in! In New Orleans ( Flickr Photo/faungg 's photos ) breeding ground for....