Tampa Convention Hurricane Watch

[MelissaWV]

I love how people are trying to blow this off if it hits and isn't a hurricane.

We're still cleaning up from Debbie. In the north our rivers are rising again due to the recent rain. Another storm could literally put a bunch of folks back underwater again, even if it isn't named at the time.

 

[lakefx]

You can't make this stuff up. Literally the eye of the hurricane/TS over tampa bay Monday night. Freakin' Hillarious. There's got to be a dozen threads from, I dunno..January predicting this very thing. Just funny.

 

[cajuncocoa]

I love how people are trying to blow this off if it hits and isn't a hurricane.

We're still cleaning up from Debbie. In the north our rivers are rising again due to the recent rain. Another storm could literally put a bunch of folks back underwater again, even if it isn't named at the time.

I agree....tropical systems are not a laughing matter.

 

[thoughtomator]

Check out the date on this: https://plus.google.com/117125802309779943126/posts/Eujfn5r79WF

It's not like it was terribly difficult to add two and two to come up with "August convention in Tampa is dumb as a box of rocks"

 

[ronpaulfollower999]

As of 5 am, Tampa is just inside the cone.

 

[Elwar]

I wish that the moment that Mitt Romney is announced as the Republican Party's national candidate the roof of the dome comes flying off and lightning strikes inside causing mass chaos.

 

[pcosmar]

I love how people are trying to blow this off if it hits and isn't a hurricane.

I never meant to "Blow it off",, but have watched and tracked more than a few storms.
And I have watched the "Chicken Littles" go running around in a blind panic when a tropical depression it 2000 miles away.
More than once.
just because one "track" out of several possible tracks puts in in the area is not reason to panic.
Watch and see when it gets close. If it comes close.

 

[jbauer]

Cool!! I've never been in a huricane before. I'm flying in on Sat and out on Mon thought I'd get out of there before the boys in blue start shooting. Guess I'll get to protest in the rain!!! Hopefully they need all those 750 million rounds because they're a bad shot.

 

[jbauer]

It's not like it was terribly difficult to add two and two to come up with "August convention in Tampa is dumb as a box of rocks"

Right but you could have used the same logic and said running Rmoney against Dumbo was stupid. But hey here we are!!!

 

[cajuncocoa]

 

[cajuncocoa]

Hurricane safety tips:

- Listen to the TV and/or radio to track bulletins and updates; follow the directions of authorities if an evacuation is mandated.
- If asked to do so by authorities, turn off utilities including water, electricity and propane tanks.
- Stay indoors at all times, close interior doors, secure exterior doors.
- Stay away from any windows. Find a room without windows, and take shelter there. If that is not possible, go into a closet.
​

Please take this advice seriously, you guys. Anything that's not bolted down can fly around easily in a hurricane and can cause serious injuries. Tornadoes are likely occurrences in a hurricane too. I know it pisses all of us off that this has to happen NOW, but it is what it is. Be careful out there!

 

[NCGOPer_for_Paul]

Guys,

We can joke all we want about the roof blowing off when Romney accepts, etc.

Here is the problem - regardless of the strength and direction of this thing, unless it veers way to the east of Florida, or stays south of Cuba, Tampa WILL be affected in some way, be it showers and wind, or tropical storm like conditions on SUNDAY evening into MONDAY.

That affects:
1. Arrivals who aren't going to Paulfest (so, the regular delegates and Paul delegates who can't get there earlier.) Delayed and/or cancelled flights are a definite possiblity. Some of us are driving -- roads may be blocked, or traffic reversed--no ability to get into Tampa.
2. Credentialing for the RNC welcome event at Tropicana Field. While that may not be a big deal for some of us, it becomes a logistical headache for organizers.
3. Transporation. I don't think sending buses over a five-mile bridge over Tampa Bay would be all that smart.
4. Ron Paul's beach party. Being on the beach might not be all that smart.
5. Monday's business sessions.

Not to mention, if this does become more serious, like a Cat 2 or 3, evacuations are a possibility, and no ability to get to your hotels.

 

[Kodaddy]

If its not a Cat 3 or above, we usually just call it a thunderstorm...but don't forget your raingear...

 

[thoughtomator]

Word just came down that the RNC may be canceled due to Isaac.

 

[UtahApocalypse]

Guys,

We can joke all we want about the roof blowing off when Romney accepts, etc.

Here is the problem - regardless of the strength and direction of this thing, unless it veers way to the east of Florida, or stays south of Cuba, Tampa WILL be affected in some way, be it showers and wind, or tropical storm like conditions on SUNDAY evening into MONDAY.

That affects:
1. Arrivals who aren't going to Paulfest (so, the regular delegates and Paul delegates who can't get there earlier.) Delayed and/or cancelled flights are a definite possiblity. Some of us are driving -- roads may be blocked, or traffic reversed--no ability to get into Tampa.
2. Credentialing for the RNC welcome event at Tropicana Field. While that may not be a big deal for some of us, it becomes a logistical headache for organizers.
3. Transporation. I don't think sending buses over a five-mile bridge over Tampa Bay would be all that smart.
4. Ron Paul's beach party. Being on the beach might not be all that smart.
5. Monday's business sessions.

Not to mention, if this does become more serious, like a Cat 2 or 3, evacuations are a possibility, and no ability to get to your hotels.

Also do you think the RNC is going to force security, logistics, and all the THOUSANDS of others involved in putting on this event to be outside with even a Tropical Storm hitting? Yes they have done countless drills for this exact thing but now its a real storm..... and real lives on the line. I expect that if by Friday night even a Tropical Storm (more likely Cat 1-2 Hurricane) has Tampa anywhere in the path the convention gets postponed until at least Wednesday.

Word just came down that the RNC may be canceled due to Isaac.

Source?!?!?!

 

[V3n]

I'm seriously re-considering my trip to Tampa. I was planning to be there Sun-Weds.. if the hurricane hits on Monday, I feel like I can make it in ok, but I don't want to get stuck there and not able to leave on time.

I heard gas for your car becomes a problem too as all the locals are bugging out at the same time...

 

[cajuncocoa]

I'm seriously re-considering my trip to Tampa. I was planning to be there Sun-Weds.. if the hurricane hits on Monday, I feel like I can make it in ok, but I don't want to get stuck there and not able to leave on time.

I heard gas for your car becomes a problem too as all the locals are bugging out at the same time...

That's correct. And the locals have every reason to "bug out". Those of us along the Gulf Coast have seen enough of these storms to take them seriously.

 

[thoughtomator]

enjoy

Tampa mayor prepared to call off RNC if Isaac threatens area

http://www.cfnews13.com/content/new.../8/22/tampa_mayor_to_cnn_w.html?cmpid=twitter

 

[cajuncocoa]

GOP has plans in place in case Isaac slams Tampa

Projected path of Tropical Storm Isaac as of August 22, 2012 (NOAA.gov)


(CBS/AP) MIAMI -- Forecasters were casting a wary eye Wednesday on Tropical Storm Isaac, which was moving west in the Atlantic Ocean and posing a potential threat to Florida during next week's Republican National Convention in Tampa.

Isaac was getting better organized as it approached the Caribbean.

It's much too early to say with any certainty whether it will gain hurricane strength or make a beeline for Tampa, on Florida's west coast.

But it's the type of weather that convention organizers knew was a possibility during the peak of hurricane season — and they have backup plans in place for a worst-case scenario.

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 Aug. 13, 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.

Full coverage: Election 2012

Isaac's maximum sustained winds early Wednesday were near 45 mph.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center said Isaac was expected to strengthen and could become a hurricane by Thursday.

Tropical storm warnings were in effect Wednesday for Puerto Rico, the U.S. and British Virgin Islands and a swath of islands across the Caribbean including Martinique, Dominica, Guadeloupe, St. Martin, St. Kitts, Nevis, Antigua, Barbuda, Montserrat, Anguilla, Saba, St. Eustatius, St. Maarten, Culebra and Vieques.

Isaac was centered about 280 miles east of Guadeloupe and moving west at nearly 18 mph. The storm's center was expected to move over the Leeward Islands Wednesday evening.

To become a hurricane, Isaac would have to have maximum winds of at least 74 mph.

Some Hurricane Center computer models had the storm striking Florida, including the Tampa Bay area, after moving across Cuba or the Bahamas as early as Sunday morning.

Jeff Masters, director of meteorology at Weatherunderground.com, said long-range storm track predictions five days in advance are notoriously inaccurate, often off an average of 260 miles. But Masters said the climate situation has improved chances that Florida could be in the system's sights during the GOP event that runs Monday through Thursday.

"It would take a perfect storm of a scenario where a bunch of factors all conspire together," Masters said. "But we definitely have to watch this one."

GOP and state officials have contingency plans ready, should the storm makes its way to Tampa, including an evacuation in a worst-case scenario. About 70,000 delegates, party officials, journalists, protesters and others are expected for the convention that culminates in the nomination of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney for president and Wisconsin U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan for vice president.

"We're monitoring it," said James Davis, communications director for the Republican National Convention. "We're in close touch with all the federal, state and local agencies. We're focused on preparing still and having a great event starting on Monday."

A four-day mock hurricane drill was held in May featuring a pretend major storm striking the Tampa area during the second day of the convention. Under that scenario, planners canceled. A major hurricane is a Category 3 or above with winds at least 111 mph and the possibility of devastating damage.

"At this point, we're prepared for everything," said Tampa Police Chief Jane Castor on Tuesday. "We've certainly factored that into our plans."

Forecasters say that, fortunately for Tampa, most Gulf storms emerge earlier or later in the hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to Nov. 30.

Florida, historically the nation's top target for tropical systems, has not been hit by a major hurricane since Wilma in 2005. The new storm's potential threat comes just as South Floridians are marking the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Andrew, a Category 5 monster that resulted in 26 direct deaths and caused some $26.5 billion in damage when it came ashore south of Miami on Aug. 24, 1992.

 

[thoughtomator]

If the RNC in Tampa gets canceled, it will be moved to an undisclosed location