Isaac appears to be finally pushing back some of the drier air. If not, this will be an Obama of a storm as far as wind goes. Lots of “promise,” no action.
Obama's a perfect name for this storm. Lots of buildup, promises of what's to come, while everyone ignores what he's actually saying. Every update from NHC has included a separate paragraph highlighting these issues, and the widespread area which will be targeted.
This is a major tropical storm which will affect an area from the Florida panhandle to the Texas border. It will take days to fully pass through the area, and while it's doing that, it will have high sustained winds pushing a significant storm surge, followed by days of heavy rain.
If you're anywhere where water will gather during a heavy downpour, leave. If you're somewhere which can become isolated due to high water or downed trees, be prepared to remain in place without power for a week.