St. Armands

Residents Association

Hurricanes

Hurricane season in Sarasota starts June 1 and ends officially on November 30 every year.

Sarasota history books show that the city rarely suffers direct hurricane hits.  

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.

Others believe that they blessed the lands to stay eternally safe from destructive storms and hurricanes. Still others think that it’s an ancient Indian burial ground on the lands of Sarasota that keeps it protected.

Now, as you might imagine, these Sarasota Indian myths have been put under scrutiny. Pretty much everyone who studies Native American beliefs or culture say that no such legends exist.

Local archeologists say that they are myths passed around by word of mouth rather than any reality regarding Native American culture.

There is no question, however, that Sarasota has had relatively good fortune regarding hurricanes for nearly a century for some reason.

The Indian Burial Ground Legend in Sarasota By Stacy Hanan | October 11, 2017

Herald-Tribune article:  What do hurricane winds actually feel like? Sarasota has no idea  (August 29, 2023)

Chronology of hurricanes affecting St. Armands:


1848 - present

Historical articles and photos of hurricane impacts on Longboat Key:  click here

1888 - present

Sarasota, Florida's history with tropical systems:  click here

September 10, 1960

Hurricane Donna hits from the south with 120mph winds. Water was pulled out of all bays & inlets and brought back in when she pulled north causing significant flooding and heavy damage here.  more info , Wikipedia

June 9, 1966

Hurricane Alma 105mph just west from the south.  Wikipedia

June 19, 1972

Hurricane Agnes caused beach and property damage on Longboat and Siesta Keys.  Wikipedia

*** 45 years of no significant impacts ***

September 10, 2017

Hurricane Irma passes 35 miles to the east while moving north with 100mph winds.  ABC7 article , Observer article , Wikipedia

September 28, 2022

Hurricane Ian passes 40 miles to the south causing massive wind and flooding damage to many southwest Florida communities.  Sarasota Magazine article , Observer article , Sarasota Magazine article , Wikipedia

August 30, 2023

Hurricane Idalia passed far enough to our west that there was no significant wind impact, but it happened to coincide with a "king tide" event resulting in significant flooding on the streets of St. Armands that persisted a full day in some sections. We estimate that there was a 3-4' storm surge on top of the unusually high tide.  This was probably the most significant flooding event on St. Armands since Hurricane Donna in 1960 (63 years ago).  Observer article , Herald-Tribune article , Wikipedia


St. Armands Residents Association

P.O. Box 2482, Sarasota, FL  34230

e-mail us at: st.armands.residents.assn@gmail.com

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