A tropical storm watch for Isaac is now in effect across the Florida Keys, and along Floridas east coast from the Jupiter Inlet south and on the west coast from south of Bonita Beach, Florida Bay and Lake Okeechobee.
But state emergency officials, who have supply lines pre-set to go out from Orlando and Jacksonville, say it remains too early, with the fate of the storms strength and direction depending upon its interaction with the hilly terrain of Cuba this weekend.
The longer it can stay over Cuba would be great for everybody, said Gov. Rick Scott, addressing the media Friday at the Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee.
And that means planning for the Republican National Convention in Tampa continues uninterrupted.
Scott, who has remained in contact with convention officials and talked with presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, said that hospitality officials in the Tampa-St. Petersburg area have heard of hardly any cancelations due to the threat of the storm.
Bryan Koon, director at the Florida Division of Emergency Management, said earlier that convention delegates from across the nation will receive information in their welcome packets about tropical storm watches, storm warnings and what to do when encountering rip tides if they head into the surf while in town for the Republican National Convention.
The biggest concern for state officials remains the Big Bend region, which has been saturated with weeks of rain that has included Tropical Storm Debby.
Were hoping this will go east, or go west or go away, Scott said.
Without any changes to the current forecast, the Keys can expect to have the storm cross close to Key West late Sunday, with the path of the storm remaining west of Tampa as Isaac heads into the Panhandle Tuesday afternoon.
No evacuation has been ordered for the Keys.
At 5 p.m., Tropical Storm Isaac was located about 100 miles south-southeast of Port Au Prince, Haiti, with winds now up to 65 miles per hour, moving northwest at 16 mph.
Scott, who is scheduled to speak Monday at the convention, hasnt changed his plans. But he said that could change depending upon the storm, as Florida is his priority.
Its a real honor to be able to represent the state at the convention, but its way more important to make sure we keep the state safe, Scott said.
Scott will be in Broward County on Saturday for updates from the National Hurricane Center on the storm, before heading to Tampa, where he will continue to receive updates on Sunday.
Reach Jim Turner at jturner@sunshinestatenews.com or at (772) 215-9889.
