Survivability, Sustainability, Adaptation, Resilience
On August 15, 1559 Don Tristan De Luna Y Arellano led 13 ships into Pensacola bay laden with 1500 colonists and the supplies to survive until the colony could be made sustainable. Because this land was new to the colonists, adaptation would be a key element to their success as well as resilience to any survivability events they could not foresee.
Lesson’s Learned
Shortly after the 15 August 1559 Luna Expedition Landing in the neighborhood now known as East Pensacola Heights (EPH) and preliminary settlement construction, Don Tristan sent communique’ to the Viceroy of Spain announcing the successful landing and siting of the settlement on a “high point sloping down to the port where the ships come in.” He further communicated to the Viceroy that the port was safe and secure from climate disruption due to the unique location. Six weeks later, 11 of 13 ships were at the bottom of the bay. A catastrophe of the brewing storm they couldn’t see coming taking a direct hit on the settlement.
