ROSEAU, Dominica (AP) - Leaders across much of the Caribbean closed schools and government offices on Wednesday as Tropical Storm Isaac swept toward the region, and the U.S. military postponed hearings for Sept. 11 prisoners ahead of a storm that could sweep across Cuba and perhaps eventually menace Florida as a hurricane.
Click here for the latest information from the National Hurricane Center
Stay with KFDM and kfdm.com for the latest on Tropical Storm Isaac.
The storm was 75 miles (120 kilometers) east-northeast of Dominica early Wednesday afternoon, with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 kph). Isaac was moving west at 21 mph (33 kph) and is expected to become a hurricane by Thursday, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center.
Dominica Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit urged people to stay home from work on Wednesday.
"I want us all to be safe," he said. "I don't want lives to be lost."
Military authorities in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, canceled several days of pretrial hearings in the case of five prisoners charged in the Sept. 11 attacks. They also planned to evacuate about 200 people, including legal teams and relatives of Sept. 11 victims.
Isaac also posed a possible threat to Florida during next week's Republican National Convention in Tampa, according to forecasters, though the hurricane's track was uncertain.
Tess Hunneybell, owner of Manico River Eco Resort, which features luxury treehouses perched in the foothills of Dominica's Morne Aux Diables volcano, said there was still barely a breeze Wednesday afternoon as dark clouds gathered over the sea.
"Right now, it's definitely the calm before the storm. But we can see the clouds coming this way," Hunneybell said.
She and others wrapped the treehouses in tarpaulin and nailed shut louvre doors in anticipation of Isaac. There were no guests as flights to the jagged, densely forested island had been suspended.
In Puerto Rico, Gov. Luis Fortuno declared a state of emergency and activated the National Guard. He also canceled classes and closed government agencies on Wednesday. Federal officials also closed the popular San Felipe del Morro castle in Old San Juan. The storm was expected to pass just south of Puerto Rico on Thursday.
The U.S. Coast Guard closed all ports in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands to incoming commercial ships and warned that all commercial vessels bigger than 200 gross tons must leave or obtain permission to remain in port.
The U.S. Virgin Islands commissioner of public works, Darryl Smalls, said crews distributed sandbags to residents in St. Croix, where schools and government offices will close on Thursday. St. Kitts also announced similar closures for Wednesday.
Liat airline and American Eagle canceled flights to islands including Dominica, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guadeloupe and Martinique.
The storm's center was expected to move over the Leeward Islands on Wednesday evening, and forecasters said it is expected to hit the Dominican Republic as a hurricane early Friday. It is then expected to hit Cuba as a tropical storm.
In the island of Vieques, which lies just east of Puerto Rico, people prepared for the government to temporarily shut off the power.
Glenn Curry, an owner of Bananas Guesthouse, said he closed the restaurant and will move guests to a higher floor.
"I don't think this is going to be a major storm, but it's going to be noisy and unpleasant for a few hours," he said.
Meanwhile, the general manager of the Hilton Golf & Casino Resort in the southern city of Ponce, Puerto Rico's second largest city, said he has warned guests about the impending storm.
"We expect bad weather, rain, wind, but nothing to the extent of danger," said Gunther Mainka.
He said the hotel prepares for storms in July, including trimming the numerous palm trees that surround the resort.
"They get a big haircut," he said. "All the loose branches go down, all the coconuts go down."
____
CARLISLE JNO BAPTISTE
Associated Press
Associated Press reporters Danica Coto in San Juan, Puerto Rico, David McFadden in Kingston, Jamaica, contributed to this report.
(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
New details about Tropical Storm Isaac
Related Stories
- More Texas News
- National News
- International News
- Railroad museum in El Paso needs new home
- High winds derail 47 BNSF cars in Texas Panhandle
- Woman slain in Central Texas, teen suspect caught
- Texas doctor convicted of patient sex assault
- Highway patrol: Texas man drowns in Red River
- Lifeguard at Houston-area pool drowns doing laps
- 2 paramedics, baby hurt in Houston ambulance wreck
- Dallas to spray some areas for West Nile virus
- Judge to rule on Fort Hood suspect's delay request
- 2 North Texas men charged with neglecting pony
- Sword stolen decades ago on way back to Brown U.
- Futures rising as Fed gathers in Washington
- Intel chief: NSA foiled dozens of terrorist plots
- Former Pa. teacher charged for classroom piercings
- Ed Koch's tombstone engraved with wrong birth date
- Price forecasts suggests tame inflation
- Audio experts testify in Zimmerman trial, again
- Va. site of Pocahontas rescue will be preserved
- Military plans would put women in most combat jobs
- House committee takes up tough immigration bill
- New form of protest in Turkey: standing silently
- Jordan's king endorses treaty with UK
- Lavrov: Iran ready to stop 20-percent enrichment
- Thailand admits losing $4.4bn from rice scheme
- Poland checking files on Nazi unit commander
- Fed meeting keeps markets in check
- Meteorologists meet to mull weird British weather
- Oil prices fall toward $97 before US Fed meeting
- World stock markets mixed ahead of US Fed meeting
- Communist rebels in Philippines abduct 5 soldiers
Automotive
Find valuable information about buying your next car, including price quotes and your latest automotive news.
We Know Why You're Awake
We Know Why You're Awake. We can help.
Wedding Central
The greatest Southeast Texas story ever told. Share your wedding and engagement news!
Lost and Found Pets
These are pets that have been lost or found in the KFDM News Channel 6 viewing area.
No Text Zone
Texting While Driving Kills Thousands of People Each Year. Many More are Seriously Injured. You Can Help Make Our Roads a NO TEXT ZONE
Texas Lottery
Texas Lottery
Community Calendar
Check out our Community Calendar!
Baby Talk
Baby Talk with Nicole Murray.
KFDM Channel 6 Top Stories
Business News
Uncertainty over US stimulus drags shares lower
TOKYO (AP) -- Jitters over a possible change in U.S. stimulus efforts by the Federal Reserve helped pull share prices mostly lower in Asian trading today.
Consumer News
BC-US--Dow Record-Three Personal Stories, 1st Ld-Writethru,1173
Dow Record: Three tales of ups, downs and changes
AP Photo FX102, FX103
Eds: With BC-US--Dow Record. Adds photos.
By SCOTT MAYEROWITZ
AP Business Writer
NEW YORK (AP) -- When the Dow first crossed 14,000, investors were overjoyed. ...
Entertainment News
"THE VOICE" FINAL PERFORMANCES
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Adam Levine doesn't have a singer left on "The Voice."
Get This
HOUSE OF CARDS
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) -- The Maryland State House is getting a promotion -- to the U.S.
Science/Tech News
IN THE NEWS: PRESIDENT OBAMA DEFENDS NSA SPY PROGRAMS
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Until they were revealed earlier this month, few people knew about the National Security Agency's spying programs.
