| Log In | Register Now
By Laura Matthews: Subscribe to Laura's RSS feed | August 23, 2012 5:50 PM GMT
As Tropical Storm Isaac continues to move westward toward Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, organizers of the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., are keeping a wary eye on the system that might become a hurricane and threaten the event.
And though Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn said he will pull the plug on the convention if a hurricane is threatening public safety, Florida Gov. Rick Scott said it's the Republicans who will ultimately decide whether the curtains will close on the show.
Storm path projections show that Isaac could hit the Dominican Republic, Haiti and possibly Cuba. The National Hurricane Center has hurricane warnings in effect for the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Once over those islands, Isaac could weaken before returning to water and then hitting Florida to either the east or the west.
The Tampa convention starts Monday and is expected to draw tens of thousands of delegates, journalists and protesters from across the nation.
"Everything's going to work out," Scott told the Miami Herald, hopeful that Isaac will not hit Florida. Still, he is leaving nothing to chance. The state's emergency management division has already been asked to activate the emergency operations center, and Scott is having regular meetings with stakeholders, according to the local paper.
"I have convened local, state, federal and convention officials for twice-daily briefings," he said. "The goal is to make sure everyone has the best information available, a complete picture of the situation."
RNC spokesman Kyle Downey told ABC Action News that he will not speculate on what will or won't be done.
He did confirm, however, that "contingency plans are in place, and we will continue to monitor the situation."
No one has disclosed those plans.
We value your privacy. Your email address will not be shared.
