Hanna spurs new emergency declaration

Standing by a satellite photo showing a trifecta of three oncoming storms, Gov. Charlie Crist declared a state of emergency Tuesday due to the approach of Hanna, a tropical storm projected to grow into a Category 2 hurricane by Thursday.

"We've got a lot coming at us, and I think it's important to be here," Crist said, reiterating he has no plans to go to St. Paul for the Republican National Convention.

Hanna is the third violent system to threaten the state in the past three weeks following Gustav and Fay, which is still wreaking wet havoc in areas along the St. Johns River in Volusia County. It's still too soon to say whether Hanna represents a threat to the east coast, but officials say even several inches of rain would worsen flooding in the middle part of the St. Johns River basin in Volusia County. Then there are Ike and Josephine.

"Stay out of the water," Crist said, citing news reports of three deaths from rip currents off the coast of Fort Lauderdale on Monday. "We must remain vigilant. We must be prepared. We must be smart, and we must continue to help one another." Crist also called on Floridians to contribute to a relief fund through the web site, www.floridadisasterfund.org.

State meteorologist Ben Nelson (speaking at left) described "moderate to major" flooding from Sanford north to DeLand, and southern Lee County is also coping with flooding. Nelson said Floridians should keep a watchful eye on Hanna's broad cone, not just the center line that at present shows that storm headed toward Georgia or South Carolina. "There's a lot of uncertainty with Hanna at the moment," Nelson said.

The Florida National Guard is sending its C-23 Sherpa aircraft back to Louisiana to transport elderly residents from storm shelters back to nursing homes. Florida is also sending four mobile "regional emergency response" systems for use by first responders who lack cellular phone service.

Crist said "pretty much looks" like he won't be able to attend the convention. He's slated to give a highly coveted rime-time speech Thursday night and it's unknown whether he will be able to speak by satellite to a national TV audience. "I haven't been in communication with anyone at the RNC," Crist said. "Our focus needs to stay on these storms."

Steve Bousquet, Times Tallahassee Bureau Chief

Comments

[bonpyes]

According to what I have read from several media outlets cat 2 hurricane Hanna has been downgraded into a tropical storm but still threatens Florida.

[Weather Watcher Joe]

Don't trust the media when it comes to tracking storms. They like to hype up everything and use old data. Trust the National Hurricane Center.