Delegates from Gulf states are being torn between meeting their obligations in Tampa and worrying about the effects of Tropical Storm Isaac back home. Zack Fink has that story.

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TAMPA, Fla. -- When the Republican Convention briefly gaveled in Monday afternoon, not a single person from the Louisiana delegation showed up. Other Gulf states also had small showings on the floor Monday, as the trajectory of Tropical Storm Isaac remains uncertain.

"At one point yesterday, it looked like Mississippi was going to get a direct hit. And ironically, it would have been the anniversary of Katrina, which, as you know, devastated the Mississippi Gulf Coast," said Gayle Wicker, wife if Senator Roger Wicker.

Some delegates from Mississippi arrived Sunday, only to turn right around and go home.

Senator Roger Wicker said, "It's sorta been day to day. I know I had reservations and Senator Cochran had reservations for today to fly back so we could be of some help there. We made the decision today not to do that."

The state of Alabama appears like Florida to have missed the worst of the storm. But it was still a constant worry for its representatives in Tampa.

"It delayed a lot of our delegates coming back home. I'm actually in the Alabama State Senate and of course, there is concern any time you hear about a potential disaster back home," said Alabama State Senator Cam Ward.

One model even showed the storm headed for Texas. But with typical Lone Star State swagger, delegates we spoke with shook off the threat.

"Being from Houston and going through Ike and Katrina and Rita, these little tropical storms don't scare us too much," said Cindy Lawrence, a delegate from Houston, Texas.

So despite the cancelations, Monday turned out to be a pleasant day in Tampa. But as local elected officials have said repeatedly, the only thing predictable about a storm of this size is that it’s completely unpredictable, making the next couple of days very uncertain.