KEY WEST, Fla. — Tropical Storm Isaac churned toward the northern Gulf Coast early Monday and promised to give the Republican National Convention a good drenching after lashing the Florida Keys and Miami area with wind and rain.
The National Hurricane Center predicted Isaac would grow to a Category 2 hurricane over the warm Gulf of Mexico and possibly hit late Tuesday somewhere along a stretch that starts west of New Orleans and runs to the edge of the Florida Panhandle. That would be one day shy of seven years after Hurricane Katrina struck catastrophically in 2005.
A Category 2 hurricane has sustained winds of between 96 and 110 mph (154 to 177 kph) and a strong storm surge. Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal called a state of emergency, and 53,000 residents of St. Charles Parish near New Orleans were told to leave ahead of the storm.
Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant and Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley also declared states of emergency, while oil companies began evacuating workers and cutting production at Gulf offshore rigs in Isaac’s projected path.
Several area governors have altered their plans for this week’s GOP convention in Tampa. Bentley has canceled his trip, and Jindal said he’s likely to do so unless the threat from the storm subsides. Florida Gov. Rick Scott gave up a chance to speak.
A hurricane warning was in effect for an area that covers a roughly 300-mile stretch of the Gulf Coast in four states from Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle. Tropical storm warnings were effect for a section of Louisiana’s Gulf Coast from Morgan City to Intracoastal City. Tropical storm warnings were also in effect for many areas along Florida’s Gulf Coast.
Even though the storm was moving well west of Tampa, tropical storm-force winds and heavy rains were possible in the area because of Isaac’s large size, forecasters said. A small group of protesters braved rainy weather Sunday and vowed to continue despite the weather, which already forced the Republicans to cancel Monday’s opening session of the convention. Instead, the GOP will briefly gavel the gathering to order Monday afternoon and then recess until Tuesday.
Tampa Mayor Bill Buckhorn, a Democrat, said the weather would be “squirrely” but predicted the storm would not unduly interfere with the convention.
“We’re going to show the world on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday what a great place this is,” he said. “As a state and a city, we’re going to put on a good show and be a great host for the Republican Party.”
As of 5 a.m. EDT Monday, the storm was centered about 180 miles (290 kilometers) southwest of Fort Meyers, Fla., and 405 miles (650 kilometers) southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami. Isaac had top sustained winds of 65 mph (100 kph) and was moving west-northwest near 14 mph (22 kph).
Florida, historically the state most prone to hurricanes, has been hurricane-free since it was hit four times each in 2004 and 2005. Isaac will likely prove barely a memory for South Florida and Keys residents, who mostly took the storm in stride as its center passed just south of Key West on Sunday.
“This is routine for us,” said Annie Lopez, 47, a lifelong Key West resident. “It’s down to a science.”
Added Jean Claude Philemy of Miami: “Every year it’s almost the same. We can deal with it.”
The storm did knock out power temporarily for around 16,000 customers throughout South Florida, and 555 flights were canceled at Miami International Airport. That forced some people to shuffle their travel plans and kept many, at least for a day, from enjoying their beach vacations.
“I have friends who tell me to come in January,” said Peter Muller, who was visiting Miami with his family from Germany. They spent part of Sunday at a Miami-area mall. “Maybe they know best.”
In the low-lying Keys, isolated patches of flooding were reported and some roads were littered with downed palm fronds and small branches. But officials said damage appeared to be minimal, and many Keys residents held true to their any-excuse-for-a-party reputation.
“The storm was the most fun thing ever!” exclaimed Sergey Jadzevics, who were taking pictures on famed Duval Street in Key West, a fresh bottle of vodka in hand.
“It’s not really scary,” added Kevin Furcrown, another Key West resident. “It’s more of a hassle than anything.”
The Gulf Coast hasn’t been hit by a hurricane since 2008, when Dolly, Ike and Gustav all struck the region.
Before reaching Florida, Isaac was blamed for eight deaths in Haiti and two more in the Dominican Republic, and downed trees and power lines in Cuba. It bore down on the Keys two days after the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Andrew, which caused more than $25 billion in damage and killed 26 people in South Florida.
Hopefully the evacuate like they were told last time!!!!!!
Living in a fish bowl surounded by water isnt the wisest choice.
Many of those who didn’t evacuate for Katrina couldn’t evacuate. They were too poor and couldn’t afford to pay the travel cost to evacuate.
BS. If you look back, the Mayor (who is a Democrat) stated that the contingency plan stated they needed at least 5 days to evacuate for a Cat 5 Hurricane, yet he waited to give the order only 24 hours in advance. How about we blame people where it is due. And oh that’s right, the then Democrat Gov. waited to activate the National Guard. So stop trying this poor me feel sorry for these people that could have gotten off there butts and helped themselves like the people of Mississippi did.
Did your wife grow up there? No? Well mine did. You have no clue what it’s really like in the poor areas of that part of the south.
BooHoo! Get off your butts and re build then instead of blaming the federal government! And you’re telling me that everyone down there is poor? Give me a break!
I don’t know why I’m bothering to feed the troll who has no clue how things are down there. Those who could afford to get out did so and didn’t bother coming back as they found something better elsewhere. For some their cash only got them to Baton Rouge, which has doubled in population since Katrina. Others made it as far as Houston or Austin and found life better there and didn’t return.
My wife grew up down there and was more than happy to flee as soon as she graduated from college and plans never to return. She was fortunate as she had $$$ while many of those left down there don’t. ‘nuf said.
It wouldn’t have mattered what letter was after the mayor of NO when this storm hit, the results would have been the same. However, I believe if it had hit a year earlier, Bush, Jr. would have been a one termer.
you’re so wrong! if Obama was in you would have praised him. You are a typical liberal looking for a handout! By the way I have been to the south. So stop assuming things that you have no idea about!
As to evacuation, there’s no way the mayor could have ordered an evacuation 5 days in advance. Katrina had only formed 5 days prior to it hitting NOLA. 5 days before it hit it was a weak tropical storm over the Bahamas. The Feds had no idea what it’s final path would be. If NOLA’s mayor had ordered people to evacuate because of a (then) weak tropic storm forming over the Bahamas, no one would have listened to him regardless of what letter was after his name.
Provided, once the path was known roughly 48 hours before it hit (when it exploded to a Cat 5 in the Gulf), he should have ordered it then, if he hadn’t. Please provide your source indicating he waited until only 24hrs before hand.
Generally in situations like this, if there is an evacuation – public transportation shuts down. Doesn’t seem to make much sense.