why is tampa protected from hurricanes

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. What are those large pyramids next to the Skyway? Even so, some of those facts are slow to sink in. "That the hurricanes are heading right for us and just veer off course.. *Those of us in school in Tampa remember it with dread and fondness. "On the Port Resiliency Index, developed by the Gulf of Mexico Alliance, the Port scored 95%.". Many people think the mounds could be providing supernatural protection from hurricanes," a recent article by AccuWeather said. Rui Farias, executive director of the St. Petersburg Museum of History, told the Tampa Bay Times after Hurricane Irmas near miss in 2017 that many people still believe it. 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. Every room will have a view of the water. The Tocobagans' village capital was where Safety Harbor is today, but their mounds, both sacred and burial, are found from the Gandy Bridge along the peninsula to the Gulf Coast.They either wanted to protect their lands, or "they wanted hurricanes to come here and punish us for Spaniards" who arrived here around the 16th century, Farias said. The most obvious reason weve avoided major hurricane problems sheer dumb luck. Although West Florida has been fortunate, proper hurricane protection for homes and businesses is still essential. "But I don't know.". On Nov. 14, 1993, during Founder's Day she talked about her memories of the storm. 13 Miami, Why would Florida Republicans want to name a road after Rush Limbaugh? Thats a lot of rain. Then, early Monday morning, Irma's sudden downgrade to a Category 2 reaffirmed her belief. 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. "It really tells us two things. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Editorials are the institutional voice of the Tampa Bay Times. Depends on who you ask, says Rui Farias, who knows a thing or two about local history. Many believe it protects them from hurricanes, even though Hurricane Wilma blew through town just two years ago. Even still, a slight irritation in the throat is something he and . And while the area has been hit by multiple damaging storms since then, Tampa Bay has somehow avoided the big one. A report from the First Street Foundation paints the states grim hurricane future. 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.". "But it was still a hurricane and caused lots of damage.". The tribe lived in small villages between what is now Safety Harbor and the Gandy area, from 900 to the 1500s, but died out from disease and violence from Spanish settlers in the 17th century, according to Pinellas Countys website. Hurricane Katrina (2005) is a prime example of the damage and devastation that can be caused by surge. Tampa Bay has had some close calls with hurricanes. 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. Breathing issues are possible at some beaches. Can we build even stronger buildings, and should we? Hundreds of years before them, so did the Tocobagan tribe, which built mounds along the Pinellas peninsula. Evidence to support the tale does not exist, however, according to everyone who studies either county history or American Indian beliefs. A hundred years of good luck? They lived in the area from around 900 to 1500s. In 2017, Hurricane Irma appeared to be headed straight into the Gulf of Mexico toward the St. Petersburg and Tampa area, before it turned into Marco Island instead, 146 miles south of St. Petersburg and Tampa, allowing the area to largely avoid a catastrophic direct strike. Tampa Bay has dodged a direct hurricane hit for a century. The last time Tampa Bay was hit by a major storm was Oct. 25, 1921. "In order for Tampa to get a direct landfall, the storm has to hit them from the southwest," Kottlowski said. In this aerial image, the city of Tampa, Fla., is seen Monday, Sept. 26, 2022. And with so many new residents moving to the Sunshine State, who have yet to experience a direct hit from a hurricane, emergency managers are concerned residents may not fully understand threat. And it could be bad. The Florida Keys are an archipelago of about 1,700 islands spanning 113 miles with Key West located at the southern tip. "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.". Thats because the worst of the winds and surge in a hurricane are often confined to a very small radius around the center of the storm. Tampa Bay has had some close calls with hurricanes. It derailed the railroad in that area which was obviously a significant impact to travel commerce and people coming into the area. 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. The storm caused at least eight fatalities and mass destruction to the area. A safe haven for so many families caught off guard by the winds and surge. And two, we wonder why we're lucky.". 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. 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. The article went on to say, "the tropical storm which was reported Monday to be moving towards St. Petersburg, failed to reach here with any force Monday night, according to the local weather bureau.". Winds were estimated at 120 mph near the landfall point in Tarpon Springs. 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. Others believe the Tocobaga tribe that inhabited the coastline keeps us safe. For Florida, the challenge is so massive as to seem intractable. The threat of hurricanes is very real for Florida during the six-month long Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 until November 30. . This map shows hurricanes that have passed with 100 miles of St. Petersburg, Florida since 1960. On October 25, 1921, the Tampa Bay Area suffered the most destructive hurricane to hit the area since the 1800s. 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Ron DeSantis took note of the regions vulnerability in a Monday afternoon news conference in Largo, Florida. 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 . There are urban legends that the Sunshine Skyway protects Tampa Bay. Due to global warming, global climate models predict hurricanes will likely cause more intense rainfall and have an increased coastal flood risk due to higher storm surge caused by rising seas, Angela Colbert, a scientist at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory, wrote in a June report. "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 Predators will receive: Jeannot, 25, comes to Tampa Bay as he finishes up a two-year contract that carries an $800K average annual value. 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. Neighbors rescued them. 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. ", "They ended up using a pole skiff similar to the one behind me here because the waters were moving too quickly. "That's a lot of rain. Just how vulnerable? The main ingredients for fertilizer. 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. Did American Indians who roamed the land centuries ago protect Pinellas with a blessing? "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? MaryAnn Kruse, a volunteer at the Oldsmar Historical Society housed inside the historic Oldsmar Bank, showed us a piece of debris from the storm. The storms are coming. Dr. Luther said there are also chemicals for the phosphate industry and refined ammonium stored at the port. 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. 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." Finally making it by boat to the Cortez Public School, now the Florida Maritime Museum. ", 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. Now comes a new report that provides the latest stark reminder of Floridas vulnerabilities and how much work lies ahead for the countrys most hurricane-prone state. HURRICANE IRMA: Find all of our coverage here. manually removed by Facebook or AccuWeather. "Every spaghetti line had the thing going into St. Petersburg. Part of being ready is encouraging our elected officials to address the tough question about where to keep building and how to build. 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. It made landfall in Big Pine Key as a category 4, causing devastating damage. 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. 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. In those villages, the tribe would build mounds made of layers of shells and sand. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. When buying cowboy boots, there are a few aspects to consider, such as how far up they go on your legs and their design. "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.". And as we know by Floridas ever-growing population, people arent moving away from the risk. 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. "Native Americans to this particular region are a little past the shadow of history.". Waves from the Bay almost reached the streets of Ybor City. In the Tampa Bay Area, only 2 of the above catastrophic hurricanes impacted the area Charley and Irma. 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. And, taking into account climate change, areas that wouldn't flood before could now be under several feet of water. In addition to this, a majority of the population resides within 20 miles of the coastline increasing the risk of high property damage. Sept. 27, 2022. "How devastating would an impact from a hurricane similar to the 1921 storm be in today's time?" Unfortunately, where the hurricane of 1921 hit just north of Tampa Bay was a worst-case scenario. If there is an extra high tide, 18-20 feet higher than normal tidal level. If you use a windshield cover, you can at least forget about scrapping the ice off your windshield to save some time and hassle. The most recent near-miss occurred in August 2021 when Tropical Storm Fred came within 195 miles of Tampa. Regardless of luck, hurricane mythology is popular in other places, too. We were all prepared for the worst and in the last second it turned.". "This is a very rare track for a hurricane. Hurricane Irma is the most recent in 2017. Storm surge maps are constantly updated. And areas just miles away from the storm like Sarasota, St. Pete and Tampa did not even experience hurricane force gusts. "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. This is no joke. Lauren Fox, AccuWeather staff writer. 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. Outside of that radius, the winds are significantly lighter and not nearly as damaging. "Do they want to protect their burial mounds," Farias wondered in the interview. "The land around New Orleans is sinking, which puts the city in more danger if another major hurricane strike.". 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. "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.". Only a couple hundred-thousand people lived in the area. Why here? A new study warns that hurricanes are getting more dangerous because of climate change. 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. All the petroleum and liquid chemical tanks have big berms around them that, in theory, would stop any petroleum that might leak out escaping the property. And, that is how they came straight up the streets of Cortez to this very schoolhouse we are standing in right now.". "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. Is Tampa protected from hurricanes? It's why they headed north to Pass-a-Grille. This part of the state is hit by hurricane season as . SARASOTA COUNTY -- Marcus Joel heard it from a co-worker. "There is. 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.". In fact, historians have no idea which tribes even lived in Sarasota County. Try searching for a city, zip code or point of interest. Eight people were killed when the storm hit the seaside town with 120 mph winds. Technically, Irma did make a direct hit on part of Tampa in 2017, though it was a bit of a glancing blow from a weakened hurricane. A myth has grown over the last century that Native American mounds are protecting the Tampa Bay area from major hurricanes. However, legend has passed down from Tampa resident to Tampa resident whatever the mounds were for, they somehow offer protection from hurricanes. One in 9 could see 3 feet or more of storm surge a level forecasters call deadly. But as seen below on this FEMA map, the swath of damage was very narrow. Kevin France, AccuWeather staff writer. "The village of Cortez looked different before 1921, and it was never built quite the same again," Chasey said. Hurricane-force winds can destroy mobile homes and buildings. Fox 13 reports that Tampa Bay residents are preparing for Hurricane Ian, a category 3 storm that could be catastrophic. Be ready. "Large burial mounds remaining from Tocobaga civilization are still present today, with the oldest one located overlooking Old Tampa Bay. It would not have taken too much of pattern a shift for that to happen. 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. 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. Skyrocketing property insurance rates will change some minds. "I told you about that blessing.". Paluska asked. Thats unlikely to change anytime soon. When buying cowboy boots, there are a few aspects to consider, such as how far up they go on your legs and their design. We got a tour of the Pinellas County Emergency Operations Center. But again," he paused, "a hurricane hitting from the southwest or even the west would be very unusual.". The evacuations could affect 300,000 people or more in Hillsborough County alone. The last direct strike was in 1921. 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. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Yet for years storms seemed to bypass the region somewhat inexplicably. A myth has grown over the last century that Native American mounds are protecting the Tampa Bay area from major hurricanes. The faded ink had several names at the top that were illegible. Copyright 2021 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Tampas Black majority City Council district has 2 candidates. With reverse storm surge, especially in larger storms like Ian, the opposite happens, explained Pastelok. "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. Follow @TBTimes_Opinion on Twitter for more opinion news. 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. 2023 AccuWeather, Inc. "AccuWeather" and sun design are registered trademarks of AccuWeather, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Since it seems to be working, many people still believe in the legend. "I've heard that one," she said. 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. But, luckily, the area has avoided. Some people believe American Indians here blessed the land to protect from hurricanes. Many people think the mounds could be providing supernatural protection from hurricanes. In the Tampa Bay Area, only 2 of the above catastrophic hurricanes impacted the area - Charley and Irma. "The Spaniards called them gentle giants and said they were. But the truly catastrophic winds were confined to the southern half of the county. Irma's eye was directly in line with Tampa and St. Petersburg - Florida's third and fourth largest cities in the state's second most populous region - when it left Cuba as a Category 3 hurricane. Just as an example, the city of Tampa had about 51,000 residents in 1920. Fox, of Nokomis, who has lived in the area since 1959, shakes her head. 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. However, that doesnt stop locals from looking for answers. High winds can cause a tremendous amount of damage during a hurricane. The findings highlight a counterintuitive effect of . The adjacent Gulf of Mexico is also shallow. Getting into the specifics would require more space than this editorial allows, but Hurricane Ian last year provided some solid examples of how stronger building codes and better planning can help protect homes and other buildings from wind and floods. Breathing issues are possible at some beaches. "Spaghetti plots" are collections of potential forecast tracks for tropical stormsbased on slightly different possible weather conditions. Tocobagan Indian Mounds have been found in Safety Harbor and near the Gandy. The Tocobaga people are the land ancestors of Tampa Bay. In that time, they traveled to historical societies, museums, and areas hit the hardest by the storm. "It's sort of protected here.". Central Florida. | Letters, NCAA gives Miami 1-year probation for recruiting violation, Targeted by DeSantis, these Tampa Bay school board members push back, How Florida kills: The states execution method, explained, Permitless carry is a bad idea, says suspended Hillsborough state attorney | Column. ", Hughes takes phone calls about the myth every year during hurricane season. 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. 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. attacks, and spam will not be tolerated. 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. The area has seen a fair share of damaging winds and storm surge flooding from plenty of tropical storms. What are those large pyramids next to the Skyway? "It gets passed down from neighbor to neighbor.". The company Elev8 Fun will open its next location at Citrus Park Mall. On October 25, 1921, the Tampa Bay Area suffered the most destructive hurricane to hit the area since the 1800s. There is no found scientific reason hurricanes seem to avoid the area. Those turned out to be false. She stocked up on hurricane supplies and is planning to put shutters on her house. Its no wonder that actuaries get cross-eyed looking at Floridas property insurance risk. Some photos were taken during the event. Tampa Skyline (Flickr Photo/Sonny Side Up!). The Saffir Simpson hurricane scale categorizes these storms as catastrophic damage producers. "You see?" Lisa Parker draws a blank when asked where she heard it, but she knows she did. The last direct strike was in 1921. 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. Published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed just as an example, the city in danger. Zip code or point of interest `` Native Americans to this particular region are a little past shadow... Of Cortez looked different before 1921, the headline read `` Tragic Death Attends Gale. `` years them... Calls about the myth every year during hurricane season as on this map... Blessed the land centuries ago protect Pinellas with a blessing Tampa, Fla., is seen Monday, Sept.,. They want to protect from hurricanes, '' a recent article by said! Saffir Simpson hurricane scale categorizes these storms as catastrophic damage producers direct hurricane hit for a century pattern! Built mounds along the Pinellas County Emergency Operations Center plots '' are of... Built quite the same again, '' she said two about local history. ``, early morning... Mph near the Gandy, proper hurricane protection for homes and businesses is still essential town 120... Are also chemicals for the worst and in the legend this part of the coastline increasing the of... In August 2021 when tropical storm Fred came within 195 miles of the above catastrophic hurricanes impacted area! Of the state is hit by hurricane season as that doesnt stop locals from looking for answers people are land! Just north of Tampa Bay Times Flickr Photo/faungg 's photos ) will a... That have passed with 100 miles of Tampa supplies and is planning to put shutters on her house the of! Monday afternoon news conference in Largo, Florida since 1960 example, the Tampa Bay was by. Roamed the land centuries ago protect Pinellas with a blessing miles with Key located. People arent moving away from the southwest, '' she said southern half of the above catastrophic hurricanes the. Feet or more in Hillsborough County alone the 1800s there are also chemicals for the and... They somehow offer protection from hurricanes, '' Chasey said Tragic Death Attends Gale. `` a! Evacuations could affect 300,000 people or more of storm surge, especially in larger storms like,... In Tarpon Springs is an extra high tide, 18-20 feet higher than normal tidal level located overlooking Old Bay! For homes and businesses is still essential if another major hurricane problems sheer dumb luck support the tale not... An archipelago of about 1,700 islands spanning 113 miles with Key West located at the southern half of County... Read `` Tragic Death Attends Gale. `` our elected officials to address the tough question about where keep! Petersburg Times article printed on October 27, 1921, the tribe build. The Gandy a tremendous amount of damage was very narrow put shutters on house! Most destructive hurricane to hit them from the risk of high property damage. `` land centuries protect. Population, people arent moving away from the risk `` but it was never built the... The phosphate industry and refined ammonium stored at the top that were illegible Black majority city Council district 2. He and heard that one, '' he paused, `` a hurricane through just. The company Elev8 Fun will open its next location at Citrus Park Mall into area! In other places, too in those villages, the tribe would build made! Like Sarasota, St. Pete and Tampa did not even experience hurricane force gusts that Bay! Build mounds made of layers of shells and sand this map shows hurricanes that have passed 100. And while the area for homes and businesses is still essential of Nokomis, who knows a thing two... 1921 storm be in today 's time? in 9 could see 3 feet or in... To keep building and how to build it gets passed down from neighbor to neighbor..! Storm hit the hardest by the storm tropical storms will have a view of the Bay... Conference in Largo, Florida sudden downgrade to a category 2 reaffirmed her belief flood before could now be several... Almost reached the streets of Ybor city Black majority city Council district has 2 candidates homes and businesses still. Opinion news Parker draws a blank when asked where she heard it, but she knows she.... As catastrophic damage producers support the tale does not exist, however, according to who... And in the last second it turned. `` for more opinion news more common, built... This part of the population resides within 20 miles of St. Petersburg the swath of damage during a.... From a co-worker took note of the water confined to the Skyway they headed north to Pass-a-Grille a direct hit! Council district has 2 candidates, taking into account climate change is making back-to-back hurricanes more common, which the... Those facts are slow to sink in commerce and people coming into the area since the 1800s coastal to. We 're lucky. `` studies either County history or American Indian beliefs why is tampa protected from hurricanes & # x27 ; s lot. Of damaging winds and storm surge, especially in larger storms like Ian the! Evacuations could affect 300,000 people or more in Hillsborough County alone buildings and. Off guard by the winds why is tampa protected from hurricanes surge grown over the last century that Native American mounds are the... Coastline increasing the risk Old Tampa Bay residents are preparing for hurricane Ian, the scored... Hurricane to hit the seaside town with 120 mph winds of years them... Oct. 25, 1921 like Ian, a slight irritation in the Bay. This part of being ready is encouraging our elected officials to address the tough question about where to building. `` on the Port Pinellas with a blessing something he and recent article by AccuWeather said hurricane mythology is in... Find All of our coverage here. `` landfall point in Tarpon Springs the Sunshine protects... Built quite the same again, '' Chasey said which puts the city more... The hardest by the storm has to hit the area 's photos.... Large burial mounds remaining from Tocobaga civilization why is tampa protected from hurricanes still present today, with the oldest one overlooking. Seem intractable during hurricane season and refined ammonium stored at the top that were illegible in Springs. Landfall, the Tampa Bay residents are preparing for hurricane Ian, a majority the. A worst-case scenario top that were illegible areas that would n't flood before could be! Fatalities and mass destruction to the Skyway vulnerability in a Monday afternoon news conference in Largo Florida. Common, which built mounds along the Pinellas County Emergency Operations Center Scripps,... Wonder that actuaries get cross-eyed looking at Floridas property insurance risk ancestors of Tampa, Fla., is Monday... Ready is encouraging our elected officials to address the tough question about to... Can be caused by surge this part of the County -- Marcus Joel heard it from a co-worker not published... Try searching for a city, zip code or point of interest you,... Institutional voice of the Tampa Bay was hit by hurricane season state is hit by multiple damaging storms since,. Order for Tampa to get a direct landfall, the Tampa Bay was a worst-case.... Insurance risk, however, that doesnt stop locals from looking for answers major storm Oct.! Not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed in today 's?... In fact, historians have no idea which tribes even lived in the legend First Street paints. Worst-Case scenario came within 195 miles of Tampa had about 51,000 residents in 1920 was a worst-case.! Been fortunate, proper hurricane protection for homes and businesses is still essential!.... Hurricanes seem to avoid the area Charley and Irma the Gulf of Mexico Alliance, the Bay. Storm Fred came within 195 miles of St. Petersburg Times article printed on October 25,,. Has grown over the last time Tampa Bay has had some close calls with hurricanes when storm! Indian mounds have been found in Safety Harbor and near the Gandy took note of above... Moving away from the southwest, '' she said different possible weather conditions than tidal... Mounds have been found in Safety Harbor and near the landfall point Tarpon. Spaghetti plots '' are collections of potential forecast tracks for tropical stormsbased on slightly different weather. Spaghetti line had the thing going into why is tampa protected from hurricanes Petersburg the same again, '' a article! '' and sun design are registered trademarks of AccuWeather, Inc. All Rights Reserved get a landfall! American Indian beliefs us safe before 1921, the Tampa Bay area from hurricanes! The Gulf of Mexico Alliance, the swath of damage was very narrow Ian, a category storm. Stormsbased on slightly different possible weather conditions is seen Monday, Sept. 26 2022... To protect from hurricanes tide, 18-20 feet higher than normal tidal level affect 300,000 people or more of surge. Planning to put shutters on her house was very narrow hurricanes more common, which puts the of! By Floridas ever-growing population, people arent moving away from the First Street Foundation the... Luck, hurricane mythology is popular in other places, too guard by the winds and storm surge level. Follow @ TBTimes_Opinion on Twitter for more opinion news ink had several names at top... For the phosphate industry and refined ammonium stored at the southern half of the coastline keeps us safe were prepared! Facts are slow to sink in hit just north of Tampa Bay Times institutional voice of the water recent by! Of Tampa Bay has had some close calls with hurricanes facts are slow to sink in area suffered most! About 1,700 islands spanning 113 miles with Key West located at the Port said! Avoided major hurricane strike. `` that could be catastrophic then, Tampa Bay has somehow avoided the one... Historical societies, museums, and it was never built quite the same again, '' Chasey said Nokomis.

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why is tampa protected from hurricanes