Florida Gov. Officially Declares State of Emergency for Storm Ahead of GOP Convention
- Posted on August 25, 2012 at 1:03pm by
Madeleine Morgenstern
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MIAMI (AP) — Officials organized shelters and urged vacationers to leave the Florida Keys as Tropical Storm Isaac approached on Saturday, though preparations farther north focused on getting ready for the Republican National Convention.
Gov. Rick Scott declared a state of emergency to make sure local and state agencies would be ready. The governor said during a media briefing that delegates were being told on how to stay safe during a storm, and officials were ready for storm surge, bridge closures and other problems that could arise during the convention. He also said he was in close communication with local, state and federal agencies, as well as convention officials.
“We are a hospitality state. We know how to take care of people and we want to ensure their safety,” Scott said Saturday.
A hurricane warning had been issued for the Keys, though it was still a sunny day in Tampa. Forecast models show Isaac won’t hit Tampa head-on, but the storm will still likely lash the city with rain and strong winds just as the convention ramps up. Protests were to start in full force on Sunday afternoon, and demonstrators have vowed that they will make their presence known rain or shine.
Isaac was blamed for at least three deaths after dousing flood-prone Haiti and was expected to scrape eastern Cuba on Saturday. It was forecast to hit the Keys late Sunday or early Monday, and it then could bring stormy conditions to Florida’s west coast before moving to the Panhandle.
Still, the storm was days away from the Panhandle. It was sunny and breezy on the beach Saturday in Pensacola, with people out strolling and playing in the sand. Condo associations told people to move furniture inside, but full-scale preparations hadn’t yet begun. Waves weren’t yet big enough for surfers.
In the Keys, officials said they would open storm shelters and urged vacationers to leave. State officials warned Isaac was a massive storm – even though the eye may not pass over Tampa, tropical storm-force winds extended 230 miles from the center. Key West International Airport was also halting all flights at 7 p.m. Saturday until the storm had passed. As of Saturday morning, 10 flights had been cancelled at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport due to Isaac. Three of the flights were to and from Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
At Miami International Airport, seven flights were cancelled Saturday, including six to and from Port-au-Prince as well as one departure flight to Key West. Airport spokesman Greg Chin said all flights stop only when sustained winds reach 50 mph and the Federal Aviation Administration tower closes and flights cannot be directed. Otherwise, it is the airlines’ decision whether to operate flights.
Officials were handing out sandbags to residents in the Tampa area, which often floods when heavy rainstorms hit. Sandbags also were being handed out in Homestead, 20 years after Hurricane Andrew devastated the community there. Otherwise, however, convention preparations were moving ahead as usual.
Groups including Code Pink, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, the AFL-CIO union and Planned Parenthood have already started arriving in Tampa, regardless of the forecast.
Police said even heavy rain could reduce the protesters’ ranks, and could also bring relief from another worry: extreme heat.
Flooding and beach erosion is also a concern for southwest Florida. The hurricane warning included the west coast of Florida from Bonita Beach southward.
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IMPrepared
Posted on August 26, 2012 at 3:23pmTo the dumbass hick in a Ford F-150 that tried to splash Phil Keeting while he was reporting from Key West, **** YOU! I hope you end up in a FEMA camp. The only thing in your truck bed was an empty cooler. “Not prepared…” Just a punk!
Report Post »76 (I'm offended that you're offended)
Posted on August 25, 2012 at 10:10pmIt’s a sign that there is a conservative storm coming.
Report Post »NurseHatchetRN
Posted on August 25, 2012 at 3:54pm8 additional OWS outside Pensacola City Hall today, as opposed to the usual 2 or 3. Sadly, once all their junk and backpacks are blown away, I’m sure they will be right back with more the next day.
Report Post »db321
Posted on August 25, 2012 at 4:35pmI hope they do show up. Half of the fun of Watching the RNC is also watching the Morons Communist outside getting their heads bash in by police.
Report Post »coyote1hell
Posted on August 25, 2012 at 3:29pmOWS, Pink Skanks, and the lot of them are just fine….sugar melts, and sh*^ floats, in the rain……
Report Post »this1can
Posted on August 25, 2012 at 2:52pmI wonder if a person would be fined if they was passing out little bars of soap to the protesters or does that just count for bottled water. Love/Pray
Report Post »JustPeachy
Posted on August 25, 2012 at 2:47pmShould be interesting, anyway. . . lol
Report Post »stuharnden
Posted on August 25, 2012 at 2:34pmIf anybody has missed West Coast and Brother they are at Tampa running the tin foil hat concession.
Report Post »KickinBack
Posted on August 26, 2012 at 6:17pmOh…they’re not missed.
Report Post »barber2
Posted on August 25, 2012 at 2:33pmWonder what Alsinky-style dirty tricks and mayhem the international Left and their local franchise here in America, the Obama Administration, have planned . OWS ? Black Blocs ? NBPP ? Anarchists ? Guy Fawkes masks ? Black hoodies ? Anti-Birther banners ? Anti-Tea Party banners ? Union mobs bussed in ? The Lefty Theater of the Absurd Players ? MIC Checks ? Glitter bombs ? Stay tuned and fasten your seat belts…..
Report Post »noland
Posted on August 25, 2012 at 2:27pmGOD is Good ,Hey ya know how to make God laugh? Tellem what your plans are!! That made me chuckle when i heard that little piece of wisdom.
Report Post »watersRpeople
Posted on August 25, 2012 at 2:10pmMaybe if it rains hard during the convention it will help keep all the Code Pink and anarchy Beasties away. Them not liking government and all.
Report Post »woodyee
Posted on August 25, 2012 at 1:46pmJust Mother Nature getting ready to cleanse the streets of the filth that will be left behind by the filthy anarchists ows/black bloc and anonymous.
Report Post »RJJinGadsden
Posted on August 25, 2012 at 3:51pmThose downtown brick streets probably could use a good wet scrubbing.
Report Post »saranda
Posted on August 25, 2012 at 1:26pmNot sure if God hates the repubs these days, but he sure is sending them a not so subtle nudge.
Report Post »endthemindlessspending
Posted on August 25, 2012 at 2:21pmGod is giving the OWS Protesters a much needed shower if they decide to still protest.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on August 25, 2012 at 3:37pmHad a record windstorm in Detroit when Reagan was the candidate in 1980 at the convention .. I think this could be a GOOD sign.
btw .. when the Governor does this it also means that anyone price gouging on gas, hotel, supplies ,etc can be procecuted …
Report Post »Individualism
Posted on August 25, 2012 at 1:19pmGod hates republicans he will drown them like he did with Noahs Ark.
Report Post »Individualism
Posted on August 25, 2012 at 1:26pmLiberty delegates will get the ark and the Neo Cons will down for their sins against humanity.
Report Post »The_Cabrito_Goat
Posted on August 25, 2012 at 2:10pmGod hates nobody, hatred runs counter to his message.
Report Post »endthemindlessspending
Posted on August 25, 2012 at 2:13pmSo, would you rather see Democrats control everything in politics? If so you might want to rethink your name you post under. Or is it that you are one of the Ronpaulbots who think he is the answer to everything in this world. We need something towards the right middle to start the changes, it’s not going to happen like ripping off a band-aid.
Report Post »endthemindlessspending
Posted on August 25, 2012 at 2:17pm@THE_CABRITO_GOAT
I agree, he must be reading a different bible than the rest of us.
Report Post »barber2
Posted on August 25, 2012 at 2:21pmINDI: But I thought you were a Ron Paul guy ????
Report Post »Individualism
Posted on August 25, 2012 at 11:03pmPaul people are liberty delegates and i am referring to Noahs Ark.
Report Post »Individualism
Posted on August 25, 2012 at 1:15pmNoahs Ark on the Republicans that would be interesting.
Report Post »RJJinGadsden
Posted on August 25, 2012 at 3:54pmDid you bend over recently? I think your tin foil hat fell off.
Report Post »kickagrandma
Posted on August 25, 2012 at 1:10pmHey, protestors: FREE BATH/SHOWER PROVIDED BY GOD.
Report Post »Hard to beat that, even if you don’t believe in HIM.
Want our country back
Posted on August 25, 2012 at 1:19pmThat’s good!!!!!!!!
Report Post »momrules
Posted on August 25, 2012 at 1:29pmNow Kick you just made me laugh out LOUD.
Report Post »Want our country back
Posted on August 25, 2012 at 2:08pmgrandma, and mom…. I feel left out… I’m a great grandma…. LOL
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