Isaac threatens RNC as the storm may target Florida
Now Tropical Storm Isaac, the Atlantic storm poses a potential threat to Florida starting this weekend and into early next week, which could directly effect the Republican National Convention in Tampa.
While forecasters say it’s too early to say, the storm is predicted to gather strength, become a hurricane and head towards the Gulf of Mexico.
“I’m not really nervous at all. I feel like an athlete,” said Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn said on CNN’s Early Start Wednesday. “You know, we’ve trained hard. We’ve been training for a year and a half.”
Tampa is set for 50,000 visitors during the RNC this year as delegates, high-profile party loyalists, media and politicians.
A Weather Underground report says if the tropical storm strengthens to a category 4 hurricane and hits Tampa, the Convention center could be submerged in 20 feet of water. Even if Isaac becomes a category 1 hurricane, it could hamper the convention.
It’s been 90 years since a major hurricane made a direct hit on Tampa.
The last to strike Florida’s west coast was Hurricane Charley, a Category 4 packing 150 mph winds. The August 2004 storm was small yet powerful – and was initially forecast to strike the Tampa Bay area before it turned and slammed Port Charlotte, about 100 miles south.
Isaac is getting better organized as it approaches the Carribbean.
The storm’s maximum sustained winds early Wednesday are near 45 mph. The U.S. National Hurricane Center says Isaac is expected to strengthen and could become a hurricane by Thursday.
And RNC organizers say they are “monitoring the situation closely.”
“We are working closely with state, federal, and local officials and plan on putting on a great convention,” said Republican National Convention spokesman Kyle Downey.
