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Hurricane Ike Has Florida Officials' Full Attention

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By KEITH MORELLI | The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 5, 2008

Updated: 09/05/2008 11:07 pm

TAMPA - As Tropical Storm Hanna soaks northeast Florida on its way to the Carolinas, storm-spooked Floridians are watching the tropic's next pitch at Florida: Hurricane Ike.

Ike's most recent projected path could put the storm in the Gulf of Mexico by Wednesday. From there, it's anybody's guess where it could go, but it might rake Florida's west coast, and that could spell trouble for the Bay area.

The National Hurricane Center's 11 p.m. update had Ike heading toward the Bahamas and steamrolling west-southwest at 16 mph. It had sustained winds of 115 mph.

By Sunday morning, Ike could be near the southeastern Bahamas. A hurricane warning is in effect there, while a hurricane watch is in effect for the central Bahamas. By Tuesday, forecasters say, it could draw a bead on the Keys.

National Weather Service meteorologist Tony Reynes said Ike's projected path is similar to that of a storm that caused extensive damage in the Florida Keys in 1935.

The National Hurricane Center's advisory this morning says strong upper-level winds could weaken the hurricane in the next day or so, but conditions expected after that favor intensification.

"All signs are that Ike will be a very dangerous hurricane for days to come," the advisory states.

In Hillsborough County, officials say it's too early to start implementing emergency plans.

"We've got to keep in mind that beyond that three-day prediction, it's not necessarily written in stone where it will go," said Holley Wade, spokeswoman for the Hillsborough County Emergency Operations Center. "It might be a threat to us. We are keeping an eye on it."

She said that if Ike sticks to the forecast, it could begin affecting the Bay area by Wednesday or Thursday.

"Considerable uncertainty surrounds the path of Ike once the storm reaches the vicinity of South Florida," a news advisory from Wade states. "A turn to the north over South Florida, or just on either side of the state is possible. One possible track takes Ike near or over Miami, then northwards towards North Carolina."

That gives us the weekend to get ready, she said.

No local emergency operations centers have been activated, she said. Officials in surrounding counties are keeping in touch through conference calls, she said.

"Everybody's watching," she said. "What we basically are doing is keeping everyone in the loop -- and at least starting the conversation -- so that come Monday morning we can hit the ground running."

Mike Stone, a spokesman for the Florida Division of Emergency Management, said Florida residents should take heed and make sure they have their emergency plans in place.

"There's a good potential almost everyone could receive some kind of impact, so we want residents in the Tampa Bay area and across the state to monitor this storm," he said.

Today, Gov. Charlie Crist issued an emergency order because of Ike's approach. The order sets in place a procedure to more easily mobilize in the event of a full-fledged emergency, including activation of the National Guard and permission for the state's department of transportation to waive highway tolls if evacuations are ordered.

St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker, who was set to fly to China on Saturday with a contingent of mayors to exchange information on green initiatives, has canceled his plans.

Reporter Josh Poltilove and News Channel 8 reporters Krista Klaus and Lynn Carson contributed to this report. Reporter Keith Morelli can be reached at (813) 259-7760 or kmorelli@tampatrib.com.

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