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Subscribe to RSSThose considered most vulnerable were urged to move into an evacuation camp housed in a school building, but others with nowhere else to go were digging trenches to avoid the water. Haiti's population remains especially vulnerable due to the country's sprawling shanty towns. NBC's Mark Potter reports.
Updated at 11 p.m. ET: Tropical Storm Isaac strengthened on Friday as its lashing rains took aim at flood-prone Haiti, but it was not expected to become a hurricane until it barreled into the Gulf of Mexico early next week.
On its current path, forecasters said Isaac would hit Cuba and the southern tip of Florida before making landfall anywhere from the Florida Panhandle in the northwestern part of the state to Alabama and as far west as New Orleans.
Forecasters put the entire coast of south Florida under tropical storm watch as of 5 p.m. EDT (2100 GMT) on Friday.
But the biggest immediate concern was heavily deforested Haiti, where the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) said the full force of the storm was expected to be felt later Friday.
Isaac could pass near Florida's Gulf Coast early Monday just as the Republican National Convention is scheduled to start in Tampa.
Winds at tropical storm strength extend 185 miles out from Isaac's center, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said in an afternoon advisory, making it a very wide storm.
On exiting Haiti, Isaac's center should cross Cuba on Saturday, and then pass south of the Florida Keys before making landfall as a Category 1 hurricane overnight Tuesday somewhere between New Orleans and Tallahassee, NBC meteorologist Al Roker said Friday on TODAY. Warm waters in the Gulf of Mexico will be "energy for the storm" as it makes its way across the gulf, he added.
In related developments Friday:
- The U.S. embassy in Haiti sent an e-mail to American citizens in the country warning that flights into and out of Port-au-Prince have been suspended due to Isaac.
- Oil and gas producers in the Gulf of Mexico started preparing as Isaac's track looked to skirt the heart of the U.S. offshore energy producing zone. BP said it would shut down its giant Thunder Horse platform, the world's largest. Royal Dutch Shell, Chevron and Apache Corp. said they would evacuate some workers from their Gulf platforms with no production impacts. Other offshore drillers were likely to shut production in coming days as the storm approaches.
- The U.S. military moved 22 F-16s from Homestead Air Reserve Base in Florida to Fort Worth, Texas. Three F-15s from the base are on alert to move to Jacksonville if necessary.
How do you salvage vacation plans when a hurricane strikes? NBC's Chris Clackum reports.
South Florida could see a few twisters and heavy rain -- some 5-10 inches Sunday and into Monday, weather.com experts said in an online chat with readers Friday.
Florida has not been hit by a major hurricane since 2005 and officials are concerned that residents there have become complacent.
Aid workers prep Haiti's tent city residents for Isaac's onlsaught
"I think it's a challenge of getting people to understand their risk and make sure they’ve got a plan," said Craig Fugate, administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
With more than 19 million people living across the Sunshine State, Fugate wants every Florida resident to have enough supplies to last 72 hours and to know when to evacuate.
Click this image to get to our Atlantic storm tracker.
"I think the most dangerous thing is when people keep waiting to see what the next forecast is even if they’re in an evacuation zone. They say, 'Oh, it’s just a Category 1 storm or a minimum hurricane.' We’ve seen significant impacts from tropical storm force winds and rain," Fugate added.
In the Florida Keys, where there are few routes available for evacuation -- U.S. 1, Key West International Airport, and the Florida Keys Marathon Airport -- Mayor Craig Cates said his biggest concern was the storm's timing. Cates said he would need at least 36 hours to begin evacuations of tourists and residents.
"If it (Isaac) comes straight on to Key West, we’re worried about the damage that could happen in Key West. If it goes further up the Keys, it could damage power lines and we could get affected," Cates said. "Even if it hits further up the state, we have got to be prepared with our generators and our supplies. Being on an island, we understand that."
Forecasters with The Weather Channel think the evacuation decisions could come quickly. It is anticipated that watches will be issued for South Florida and the Keys by Friday night. In the event of an evacuation, Cates told The Weather Channel that tourists would leave first, followed by special needs citizens.
Live updates and analysis from weather.com
Transcript of weather.com experts answering Isaac questions
Florida Gov. Rick Scott said state officials are working with convention organizers, who will ultimately make the call on a delay or cancellation of the event.
State officials announced Thursday that they will wait to make decisions about moving supplies until after Isaac passes Cuba. FEMA has already placed food and generators in Jacksonville.
Isaac is forecast to remain a tropical storm after crossing the Dominican Republic and Haiti and then passing over Cuba into the Florida Straits.
Tampa officials have not ruled out the possibility of postponing the GOP Convention if the storm poses a public safety risk. NBC's Kerry Sanders reports.
The National Hurricane Center warned it was "important not to focus on the exact track because of forecast uncertainties and the fact that Isaac has a large area of tropical storm force winds."
Follow Isaac's path with our storm tracker
Isaac was expected to dump between 8 and 12 inches of rain over parts of Haiti and the Dominican Republic, and up to 20 inches in a few areas. That poses a significant threat to Haiti, which is highly prone to flooding and mudslides because of its near-total deforestation.
Haiti, the poorest country in the Americas, still has about 350,000 people living in tents or makeshift shelters more than 2-1/2 years after a devastating earthquake that took more than a quarter of a million lives.
With nearly 400,000 people still living in evacuation tents, a hurricane or even a tropical storm could lead to deaths and more damage to the already fragile country. NBC's Mark Potter reports.
Red Cross workers toured crowded tent camps of Haitians left homeless by the 2010 quake to warn about Isaac.
Authorities in the Dominican Republic evacuated people living on the banks of rivers, streams and areas vulnerable to landslides in preparation for the approach of Isaac, whose effects were beginning to be felt with showers in the south of the country.
Weather.com and Reuters contributed to this report.
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Don't worry. Even if the convention falls apart, the GOP can still take their whores and their coke further inland. After all it's all about the sex, the drugs, the alcohol and the MONEY. And of course it's all in the name of CHRISTIANITY.
GOP whores and coke .. Wait a minute, How about Obama's gay lovers and the fact that he did drugs in college. Oh right, that doesn't count. He is the messiah
we have not seen a hurricane in 6 years, if you are a true flat foot Floridian, not a snow bird, going thru your first hurricane you would be buying beer for a hurricane party, I saw a woman in Walmart 2 days ago with her cart full of bottled water, empty gas cans, and butane tanks. I asked her if she was preparing for the hurricane she said yes, it was her first one, with a smile on her face,. Then I asked where she was from she said Jersey, not, (New Jersey). I wanted to give her some advice but I kept my mouth shut, I hope her power goes out, since most of Floridians have wells, so she no longer has power to flush the toilet and she has to use the bottled water to get the toilet to flush.
1...... you will know how to spell hurricane
2...... you know a category 1 is nothing but a good rain storm and a yard cleaning for dead branches
Life is not about how to avoid the storm
life is knowing how to dance in the rain............ A True Floridian
Issac is racist and elitist because the storm will harm more poor blacks than rich whites plus the storm will attack fewer white college educated than blue collar black citizens. Fairness dictates that a larger percentage of rich whites be forced into the path of the storm.... or is that a tax theory?
oldandtried
You must be black and stupid
Are you old and tried or are you old and tired, go back to grade school and learn to spell before you come to Florida, PLEASE.
What will Issac do to the scores of college educated blacks. do they get spared also.
Is this a black and white issue?
A white collar educated vs. blue collar issue (because fyi, there are those of us whites that have blue collar jobs as well. It's not only a "black thing".
Or is it a rich vs middle class or poor issue.
You are the one who is the true racist. Leave Isaac out of this.
Someone is too subtle for his own good...
They say that God works in mysteries ways. His patience and mercy is numberless, but even God must have his limits. The way the concepts of love, mercy, and forgiveness can be twisted into hatred and judgement is beyond me. Hell simply exist on earth and inflicted upon others due to greed and the desire to seek power over others rather than existing to help one another. People forget that three of Christ's most famous parables were about helping those on the fringes of society. The first of the shepherd who left his entire to search for the one lost lamb. The second of the women who lost her silver coin and searched endlessly until found. The third of the return of the prodigal son. How have these ideas been lost in the Christian faith?
Hallelujah, mother &ucker
I take it you have no idea how Christianity is being twisted by the Tea Party. I guess you enjoy swearing. But what does it prove?
It proves you pass judgement on how you want to see things, not as they could be seen in a differant view. And yours is the only one that counts.
As do you. I wonder what the GOP has been doing?
JBJB
You don't wonder, you wander, thru the halls of life like a blind horse with no goals of achievement. You expect it to be served to you on a silver plater. I am sorry it does not work that way, just remove the blinders and turn your head so you can see from every direction.
My point remains, we as human are here to help one another not take advantage of them or harm them. If that is living with blinders, I prefer to conduct my life in this manner rather than living a life driven by greed, fear, and hatred. I do not pray to God to give me an easy life nor do I expect it. I work hard compassionately assisting others. I believe we are here to help the needy not the greedy. I endeavor to see in every direction and realize there are elements of religion that poisons society. It shouldn't, but this is what Christ himself objected to in the New Testament. The greed and a nonfunctioning Congress-both parties-talk about having things on a silver platter-depending upon generating passive income from investments while shipping overseas huge numbers of jobs is destroying our country. Waging two wars, one of which is still going, and neither party talks about it. The soldiers come from a very small portion of our population. They are required to perform repeated tours of duty. If we continue to fight wars there needs to be a draft, so all sections of our society are represented in the arm forces. I see a need for social and economic justice in the world. If that is living my life with blinders, than that is what it is, but it has a benefit to other human being who appreciate it. I am not rich and never will be, but I am happy and feel fulfillment in my life. I will continue to stand for justice for all people in need.
Hmmm...because of Romney's anticipated nomination, I knew Salt Lake City was disappointed when they lost their own bid for the Convention, but this is ridiculous.
@ TonyinWyo Let's not forget, that the government takes care of all it's people. So when you say that people are living in their parents' basements and living off of your dime...what is your response to ....'s plan to use that same money to 'support'/give even more tax breaks to those making over $250,00, and those like Romney/Ryan who won't even put forward their tax returns? (which by the way, in case you want to call it 'liberal media', are the ONLY candidates in history that refuse to do this!)
Which would you rather take care of? taking care of childrens food programs, elderly, and yes, the (still) unemployed, or giving tax breaks to people who wouldn't even notice the savings? Boo hoo....living on $20 million a year must be so hard! (don't get me wrong, I don't hold success against anyone) but really!
As Pat Robertson is so fond of saying "It is Gods punishment for them being (insert words of choice) turning their backs on God/practicing Satanism/being Gay/blaspheming God..."etc. The Republicans have been using the name of God to steal votes and fool the believers for decades. Isaiah 57:17 says in the new living translation (2007)
"I was angry, so I punished these greedy people. I withdrew from them, but they kept going on their own stubborn way."
Or maybe Pat and his God are just two more White f*cks who want to be worhipped?
Tis better to die by drowning...
Does anybody remember how the Republicans prayed for God to send rain to block Pres. Obama's nomination in 2008?
Here's one source:
Do a Google search and you'll find more.
Sorry, the link above was deleted. Do a search on YouTube and Google.
i love it how liberals fill the message boards about conservatives about being intolerant and racist and bigots. yet they sit and wish death upon the people attending the convention. do you realize its going to affect liberals there as well that have nothing to do with the convention. and you wonder why conservatives cant take you seriously. so happy i dont take either side and just stay neutral because both sides have few good points but have far more hate than anything. this contry is not progressing its falling apart.
I think the point is ugly is ugly no matter who side it is.
This supposed to been about the preparation of the hurricane.....if people are being mean and it's not a hurricane then what will they do in a time of need?
Go to hell with Democrats and Republicans.
I agree Seb, none of them are going to do ANYTHING to bring the US to where we should be at this point in time, we are in a stage of decline that probably begun long before 9/11 and no party seems to be doing anything about it. No matter who wins the Presidential election the only thing is going to happen is that we go to War with Iran for Israel, that will be the first order of business.
I read the entire story and almost choked when it cited "The Weather Channel" as a source for information on this storm. Those people can't even get it right over the Continental U.S., let alone over the ocean. Stick with the NHC in Miami, and you will get a good forecast. They also failed to mention that Cuba is probably going to get hit first.
Hmmm...isn't there some Bibical passage about Jacob, a trickster and deceiver, living in fear of his father Issac?
It's a question. I'll work on the metaphor more after it's answered.
Isaac will be cleaning the Caribbean one island at a time, unfortunately most of the garbage will wash back on shore.
Marilyn -
I hope the MD behind your name means the state of MD, not Medical Doctor!!! To make such a heartless statement - shameful.
If it rains as much as anticipated, many republicans will melt
The GOP is against freedom and hates America
Obama/Biden 2012
ayatollah Obama banned.
Failed audition.
Didn't his happen in 2008 with McCain's convention? Isn't insanity, doing the same thing, hoping for a different result?
Stupid Repubs don't learn from their mistakes. Never have. Never will.
Can you say FLOATING ELEPHANTS IN TAMPA?? "HELLO" Florida is hurricane central this time of year!!! Just ANOTHER stupid decision made by republicans for choosing hurricane prone Florida for the convention during hurricane season. So ummm yeah BRIGHT move by some "whats suppose to be" educated people!!
@ayatollah obama- im NOT rooting death... I'm just condemning the USUAL STUPIDITY of the republican party. Don't be SILLY. No where do I mention death... only stupid decision making. A high school drop out can make better decisions then these stupid people can.
@ayatollah obama-Since republicans are SO FULL of hot air they blow up there butt everyday with all the lies, broken promises and help they give to the FILTHY RICH. So I'm sure that AIR will make them float safely to a dry sea shore, lol. AGAIN this still does not mention death and your really beginning to sound as stupid as your name!!!
And they want to run the country. Sorry to go off topic. Lol, just couldn't help it.
Great, maybe now Joe Beiden won't come to my state. We have 6 Democrat U.S. Reps and 1 Democrat U.S. Senator that stink up the State enough.
Have you checked your smell lately? Maybe that's where the stink is coming from.
Its gods way of punishing the gays , hoolywood sinners and jus ;librals in general. An he will keep punishin them for there sinnin ways if he has to strike every county in the bible belt. he will keep doing that with every type of natural disater till them ol gays and demcrats had enough and disappear .
romney and his team are idiots and the american people don't need idiots in the white house. romney has a stupid laugh, a crazy walk and sloppy looking blue jean. he is not presidential material
You don't seriously think that if he hadn't, we'd know about it, do you?
And, he didn't create many jobs while he was Governor of Massachusetts, did he? Ah, right. If he never really tried to create jobs, then it wouldn't be a failure, would it?
Yes, he has been successful at whatever he has done--like gutting companies and laying off American workers----then making a bundle overseas------and don't forget his ability to hide the proceeds!!!-----I agree, a "master" at what he has done!!
Heaveto, just what do you think Obama has been doing for over 3 years? Sending "green jobs" to China and spain instead of keeping them here. Avoiding the keystone pipeline and sending money to Brazil to drill for oil. All you Obama forgivers are dumb or blind to the truth.
The republican national convention has been re-named... "the stupid party national convention"
And that's stating it lightly!
Judging by some of the comments in here they're right. If you know people that were there for Andrew why would you think their preps are funny? But some do.
skip... your an idiot. enough said.