Message in a Bottle: A WWII Relic Unearthed by Hurricane Debby’s Aftermath
As Hurricane Debby swept through the Tampa Bay area in August 2024, it left behind more than just a trail of debris. In an unexpected twist, the storm uncovered a long-lost piece of history. Local resident Suzanne Flament-Smith, while cleaning up storm debris on Bayshore Boulevard, stumbled upon a WWII-era message in a bottle—a discovery that has since captivated historians and the public alike.
It all began as an ordinary post-hurricane cleanup. Flament-Smith, frustrated by the amount of plastic waste scattered along the shore, took it upon herself to clear the area. “There was so much plastic. I’m like, ‘Okay, this is driving me crazy,’” she said. Armed with gloves and trash bags, she started collecting debris. On her third bag, she noticed something different: a glass bottle with visible writing inside. “I was like, ‘Oh my goodness, I think I just found a message in a bottle,’” she recounted.
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