Did Tocobaga Tribe Bless Tampa To Keep Safe From Hurricanes?
The Tampa Bay area has been able to avoid hurricanes for a long time! Many people from the area attribute it to a blessing that came from the Tocobaga Tribe. The last major hurricane that hit Tampa dates back to 1921 which had winds over 100 mph and a 11-foot storm surge. So, why has Tampa been able to avoid being hit by a major hurricane for such a long time? Many people from the area give credit to the Native Americans of the Tocobaga Tribe which legend says, blessed the land keeping it safe from big storms.
Tampa Tocobaga History:
Back in the 900s, the Tocobaga tribe made the Tampa Bay area their home. They built villages out of shells and sand making temples, burial grounds, mounds and homes for their chiefs. Sadly, they were completely wiped out by disease and war from Spanish settlers. Now, the oldest remaining burial mound is located near Old Tampa Bay which many people think it keeping Tampa Bay safe.
Hurricanes Protected By The Tampa Tocobaga?
Many believe it was the blessed Tocobaga Tribe land that “caused” the shift in trajectory for other major storms like Irma in 2017 and Ian just last year.
Over more than a century ago, the 1921 hurricane made landfall in Tarpon Springs making a huge impact on the area. The hurricane which had no name at the time, packed massive 120-mile-per-hour winds and a storm surge of 11 feet. The hurricane was so large and devastating that it claimed the lives of eight people which also included children. It officially made landfall on Oct. 25, 1921. Ultimately, this was the last time the Tampa Bay area had a direct hit from a major hurricane. All of this happened before the Saffir Simpson Wind Scale. Experts have examined the storm and said it would have been a Category 3. Overtime this hurricane has been called the ‘Tarpon Springs Storm’ since it originally had no name. Since the storm surge reached 11 feet, Bayshore Boulevard and Palma Ceia were pushed off it’s foundation.
5 Things You Should Have Before Hurricane Season Starts
Empty Sand Bags
Remember when everyone was scrambling all over Pinellas and Hillsborough counties looking for sand bags? Most pick-up locations were only allowing people to pick up 2-3 bags per person, which is probably not enough to surround your house/belongings.
BBGI
If you order these empty sandbags on Amazon now, you should have them by next week. It will make your life a lot easier to just drive to your nearest beach or causeway and fill the bags up that way.
(Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Battery Powered Fan
We all know how crappy it is to lose power in the middle of a hurricane. In some cases, you may not know when it will be restored. Amazon has this really cool battery powered camping lantern with a fan for only $20. Reviews say that 1 set of D batteries lasted them over 10 hours.
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Footwear
If you live in Florida and don’t have a decent pair of rain boots, now is your time to get a pair. If the thought of gross storm water touching your skin freaks you out, you should grab a pair of these knee high waterproof boots.
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Honorary Mention: Board Games/Deck of Cards/Coloring Books
This one may seem obvious, which is why we made it an honorary mention in case it does slip your mind. Remember how bored you were when you lost power from Ian? Some board games, deck of cards, or coloring books should help you pass the time, without killing your phone battery.
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