South Tampa Residents Flee RNC, Head To The Beach

Doug Graybill and Kelli Albares evacuated their downtown Tampa condominium this week and headed for a St. Pete Beach inn to avoid the storm.

It's not tropical storm Isaac, churning toward Florida, that worries them.

The couple wants to avoid the storm of delegates, media and security flooding downtown Tampa for the Republican National Convention, Aug. 27-30.

"We're having to show ID just to get into and out of our own house," said Graybill, a dentist whose home is at the Towers at Channelside.

"We live at Ground Zero," said Albares, his fiance.

The couple has been commuting to their Tampa offices from the coastal Great Heron Inn, just to avoid disruptions from the RNC.

A security zone set up around the Tampa Bay Times Forum, the RNC site, has upended routines, temporarily shut some businesses and caused delays for people who live and work in the heart of downtown Tampa.

"Security and police and the FBI have been in our garage," said Albares, who works in the real estate industry. "Getting around is difficult. We were delayed trying to grocery shop at Publix."

Friday morning, the couple seemed in no hurry to get to work. They strolled along the Gulf beach and watched work crews erect tents behind St. Pete Beach hotels, in preparation for parties for RNC visitors.

Five St. Pete Beach hotels are accommodating some of the visitors, from delegates to media.