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.

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.

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.

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It'll be here before you know it. Hurricane season is upon us and if Ian and Helene  taught us anything, it's better to be safe than sorry. Even though Tampa was barely able to avoid the worst of Ian, we still remember people scrambling to get last-minute supplies. Some waited in lines for hours for supplies only to leave empty-handed. Don't let that be you this year! In the case of a major hurricane or even a tropical storm, you should have these 5 things before hurricane season starts.

Experts say it's super important to build a storm kit before any type of disaster. Each kit may look different based on an individual's needs. These are the universal 5 items you shouldn't forget! We found all of these items on Amazon. If you think ahead and order these items now, you should be able to build your storm kit before hurricane season even starts. Anybody can remember to stock up on the essentials (bottled water, food, and batteries) but do you have these useful items in your home in case of a big storm?

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has also listed hurricane safety tips and resources so you and your family can be prepared. When shopping for supplies, you should grab enough items like water, food, and batteries, to be able to last you for at least 1 week. It also seems pretty obvious that every Floridian should own a battery-operated or hand-crank radio. If you ever lose power, at least you can still be kept in the loop with your favorite radio station. And by now, everyone should have a backup portable phone charger.

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.

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.

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.

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.

It's better to have something and not need it than to need something and not have it, right? Check out this mini water filtration system for just $22 on Amazon.

You don’t want to ruin important documents like social security, state issued ID and birth certificates, prescription medication, copies of insurance documents, to name a few. Bonus if you can convert other important documents to an USB flash drive! You'll want something big enough to hold all of your belongings, but compact enough to carry around in case you have to evacuate. Amazon has a great option, here.

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.