Monday, December 20 1999

Worst local storms
The worst storms to hit our area from 1921 to Agnes

HERALD STAFF REPORT



Since 1900, hurricanes and tropical storms striking areas of the United States bordering the Gulf of Mexicohave killed more than 9,000 people and inflicted tremendous amounts of damage. Manatee County and the rest of the Tampa Bay area have been relatively lucky.

Only a handful of these storms have found there way here:


The Big One of 1921 - Before storms were given names, this Category 3 hurricane came ashore in late October. It packed 80-90 mph winds and 10-foot seas, destroyed most of the fishing docks near Cortez and created Midnight Pass on Siesta Key. Damage was estimated at $3 million. If a storm of this proportion hit the area today, it would destroy about 4,000 homes and leave 20,000 homeless.

Hurricane Elena - This 1985 storm stalked the west coast of Florida for most of the Labor Day weekend. Packing 100-mph winds and a storm surge of four feet above normal, Elena forced 100,000 residents of Manatee and Sarasota counties to flee their homes. The storm shifted to the northwest across the Gulf of Mexico, preventing further damage to the area. Anna Maria Island was hit with some roadway damage and there was flooding and several sea wall collapses. In all, Elena did $8.6 million in damage to Manatee County.

Hurricane Donna - This September 1960 storm slammed into the Gulf Coast near Fort Myers. It was one of the worst storms in Florida history, causing $387 million in damage in the state, the Caribbean and the eastern United States. However, little damage - mostly flooding - was seen in this area. Several Australian pines in Palma Sola Park were uprooted.

Tropical Storm Marco - This 1990 storm whipped through Manatee County with sustained winds between 50 and 80 mph. Marco's winds blew trailers off their foundation, ripped roofs from homes, uprooted trees and knocked out utilities in many parts of the county. When all was said and done, Marco did about $2 million in damage.

Hurricane Agnes - This June 1972 storm was a Category 1 hurricane, yet it did a lot of damage, mostly in the eastern part of the United States. Agnes dropped 19 inches of rain throughout the country. It caused a lot of flooding damage from Venice up to the Panhandle.




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