As Hanna Nears, Fla. Declares Emergency

Gov. Charlie Crist called a state of emergency today for Florida as Tropical Storm Hanna, currently over the Bahamas, bears down on his state, the St. Petersburg Times reports. With Gustav’s fringe still causing flooding on Florida’s east coast, officials worry even a miss from Hanna—expected to grow into a Category 2 hurricane by Thursday—could exacerbate the situation.

Crist—once rumored as vice-presidential candidate—said he most likely wouldn’t attend the Republican Convention, where he has a primetime speaking slot. "We've got a lot coming at us, and I think it's important to be here," "I haven't been in communication with anyone at the RNC," Crist said. "Our focus needs to stay on these storms." (More St. Petersburg stories.)