If Tropical Storm Isaac threatens the Tampa Bay area as a major storm, the city of Tampa won't hestitate to pull the plug on the Republican National Convention, Mayor Bob Buckhorn told News 13.



"Public safety will trump politics," Buckhorn said Wednesday morning in an interview with News 13 morning anchor Marla Weech. "The decision to evacuate or not evacuate far surpasses the decision to host this event. We will make that decision in conjunction with the Republican National Committee. But the ability to move people out of harm’s way will trump everything and I think everyone understands that."

Buckhorn said their emergency operations center is already up and running because of the convention.

The chances that Isaac, which is churning in the Atlantic Ocean toward the Caribbean Sea, will hit the Bay area still remain small. But if it did strike as a hurricane, the impact would be enormous. And with thousands of extra visitors in the area for the convention, community leaders would have the added responsibility of assuring their safety.

The convention is scheduled to run Monday through Thursday.

Buckhorn said currently, they are focusing on putting on a good event for the RNC. However, the decision to cancel the convention could come one or two days out.



Isaac was centered 210 miles east of Guadeloupe and moving west at around 19 mph this morning. A Hurricane Watch has been issued for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

A turn to the northwest is expected at the end of the week, which would possibly take it over Hispaniola and Cuba.