Hurricane Isaac 2012: Mandatory Evacuations Expected for Category 2 Hurricane, Targeting US Gulf Coast Region
Hurricane Isaac was expected to slam directly into Tampa according to reports last week. However, the US National Hurricane Center in Miami reports that Tropical Storm Isaac will actually be a category 2 Hurricane Isaac as it reaches the US Gulf Coast region by late Tuesday or early Wednesday.
Hurricane warnings have been issued throughout the coast of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and the Florida panhandle. Mandatory evacuations have been predicted as Hurricane Isaac advances.
In order to become a category 1 hurricane, Tropical Storm Isaac must achieve maximum sustained winds of 74 mph. Currently, Isaac is calculated at 60 mph.
"Our hurricane threat index graphic shows that locations from far southeast Texas to Florida should stay vigilant and monitor the progress of Isaac very closely," Weather.com reported.
A public advisory was issued at 2 p.m. ET on Saturday, keeping a hurricane warning for the Florida Keys, the west coast of Florida and Florida Bay. The region is expected to suffer extensive flooding in some areas as the storms continue. A hurricane warning means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area within the coming 24 to 36 hours.
Robert Molleda, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, has said: "Even if we don't get hurricane force winds, tropical storm force winds can be dangerous. We are not recommending people be outside," according to The Palm Beach Post.
"We are going to have a lot of power outages and a good number of trees down, with the rain and the ground saturated."
The RNC, 2012 Republican National Convention is officially being delayed until Tuesday, August 28. Word of the delay came to California Republicans--who are the largest representatives to the RNC--on late Saturday.
"It's just a matter of protecting the safety of the delegation and assuring the convention is going smoothly," Mitch Zak, spokesman of the California delegation said. "It's not going to change our enthusiasm. We're still extremely excited - and a little water is not going to get in the way of a great convention."
At least 750 from the California delegation were expected to fly in for the opening day on Monday, Zak said.
"We're all still coming in. So nothing has changed as far as the events, it's just one day delay," he continued.
