Isaac gains strength
By: Ray Doughty
Updated: August 27, 2012
Tropical Storm Isaac continues to gather strength as it rips through the Caribbean.
With the storm still miles off shore winds and rain are already picking-up in the Dominican Republic, the next target before Isaac turns toward Florida and the Gulf Coast.
Emergency managers are already mapping out a plan.
"We're making sure that all of our supplies and equipment are in place, and functional so that should the storm come closer we're able to ramp up and be ready," says Lee County Emergency Management Planning CHief Gerald Campbell.
Still days away, Florida is already feeling the effects of the system.
Gas prices jumped overnight due to fears the storm will slow shipping and shutdown refineries in the gulf.
Crews have installed rain shields in Tampa, where there's growing concern Isaac could be an unwelcome guest as 65,000 show up for the Republican National Convention next week.
Mayor Bob Buckhorn says he hopes he'll never have to make the call to evacuate.
The current forecast shows Tampa will get a glancing blow as the storm takes aim at the Gulf Coast, but experts understand that path can change quickly.
"Hopefully we'll watch the storm pass and not have to do anything more, but we're ready if we have to be," Campbell says.
With the storm still miles off shore winds and rain are already picking-up in the Dominican Republic, the next target before Isaac turns toward Florida and the Gulf Coast.
Emergency managers are already mapping out a plan.
"We're making sure that all of our supplies and equipment are in place, and functional so that should the storm come closer we're able to ramp up and be ready," says Lee County Emergency Management Planning CHief Gerald Campbell.
Still days away, Florida is already feeling the effects of the system.
Gas prices jumped overnight due to fears the storm will slow shipping and shutdown refineries in the gulf.
Crews have installed rain shields in Tampa, where there's growing concern Isaac could be an unwelcome guest as 65,000 show up for the Republican National Convention next week.
Mayor Bob Buckhorn says he hopes he'll never have to make the call to evacuate.
The current forecast shows Tampa will get a glancing blow as the storm takes aim at the Gulf Coast, but experts understand that path can change quickly.
"Hopefully we'll watch the storm pass and not have to do anything more, but we're ready if we have to be," Campbell says.
