TAMPA (FOX 13) -
State
managers have been preparing for trouble in the tropics. They have run
hurricane drills and developed contingency plans if a tropical system
approaches Tampa Bay before or during the Republican
National Convention.
A hurricane
could disrupt the convention even if it misses Tampa Bay.
The last GOP convention in St. Paul
shows how the party will likely respond to a hurricane, even if it hits
hundreds of miles away.
In 2008, Republicans
scaled back their convention when Hurricane Gustav hit Louisiana. Delegates along the Gulf Coast
flew back home. The first day of the convention focused on storm relief.
This year,
a storm could threaten the convention site. State, city and convention leaders
say they will not put lives at risk, so if a major storm bears down on Tampa before or during the
convention, it could be shortened or canceled.
"If there's
a weather incident, then life, health and safety come first," said Tampa Bay
Host Committee CEO Ken Jones. "The RNC will work on their legal process how do
we get their candidates to be nominated."
Republicans
meet next week in Tampa, and Democrats the week
after that in Charlotte,
which is also vulnerable to tropical weather systems.
