Isaac Hurricane Path; Category 2 Storm 'Enough to Knock You Over' in US Gulf Coast; Florida Prepares for RNC Tuesday
Hurricane Isaac 2012 is well on it's way northeastward toward the U.S. Gulf Coast region.Tropical Storm Isaac is expected to become an intense category 2 hurricane as it travels over the warm Gulf of Mexico and strikes west of New Orleans until the panhandle of Florida, the Chicago Tribune reported.
U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) spokesman Dennis Feltgen said category 2 Hurricane Isaac will be "enough to knock you over."
Isaac did little damage as it stormed pass Key West, Fl., with heavy rains and winds. The forecast predictions for the storm delayed the Republican National Convention (RNC) that was supposed to begin Monday, Aug. 27, in Tampa.
However, the sustained winds for the possible category 2 hurricane can manage 96 to 110 mph sustained winds. The approximated tracking and timing of Isaac is reportedly similar to Hurricane Katrina, which crippled New Orleans and the Gulf Coast nearly seven years ago with more than 1,800 deaths.
Hurricane warnings have been issued for the Gulf Coast region, including land between Morgan City, La., and Destin, Fl. Governor Bobby Jindal of Louisiana declared a state of emergency and mandatory evacuations for over 50,000 people have already been issued as the storm advances.
"There's really nothing that's going to stop this storm from forming and from strengthening," Jindal said, according to Reuters.
RNC 2012 was officially delayed until Tuesday, Aug. 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.
Howver, Florida Mayor Bob Buckhorn still looks forward to a succesful 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."
