The first drops of Tropical Storm Isaac had just begun to fall on delegates outside the Mainsail Hotel Sunday, but former Ohio House Speaker Jo Ann Davidson was already looking to the future.

“Years from now, when you’ll talk about the 2012 convention, you’re going to say, ‘remember the storm?’ she said to Ohio Republicans  preparing to formally nominate former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney as the GOP candidate for president. “So this is going to be an experience for all of us.”

No doubt. Ohioans gamely soldiered on with plans, tinkering slightly to accommodate the expected onslaught of what could be sustained wind gusts and up to 8 to 10 inches of rain.

“I figure we’ll make the best of it,” said Karen Greco, an honorary delegate from Gates Mills, Ohio, near Cleveland. “I think it will be fine.”

Among those emotionally prepared for the weather was U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson, who was stationed in Tampa during his time in the Air Force up until 1999.

He said the biggest problems will likely be traffic problems: Tampa is notorious for bad traffic anyway, and the prospect of water on the roads won’t likely improve that. He said he agreed with the decision to cancel Monday’s events, but said the regions most likely to flood the worst would be closer to the beach.

“If the storm hit us head-on, I’d be a lot more concerned,” he said.

Had he packed any disaster supplies? “I have a flashlight on my phone,” he said. “I guess I’m not a good Boy Scout. I did not bring anything.”

Ohio Republican Party Chairman Bob Bennett said a scheduled Monday night party featuring Senate President Tom Niehaus and House Speaker Bill Batchhelder that had been planned for the Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City – which bills itself as Florida’s oldest restaurant – would now become a “Hurricane Party,” held at the delegation hotel instead. “It’ll be a scaled-down event,” he shrugged.

He said the delegation’s hotel was powered by  three generators, and was close to a power station, so hotel staff had reassured him that even if they lost power, they’d likely get it back quickly.

Still, the party was taking no chances: They bought flashlights for each Ohio guest. They were holding them back, he said, just in case.