Politics | President Obama Obama on Isaac: Don't 'Tempt Fate' Tells Gulf residents 'you need to take this seriously' By Kate Seamons Posted Aug 28, 2012 10:14 AM CDT Copied President Barack Obama speaks about Tropical Storm Isaac, Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2012, in the Diplomatic Room of the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) President Obama kept his advice for Gulf residents short and sweet in a press conference today, which came complete with one line that nearly all media outlets are seizing on: "Now is not the time to tempt fate." He made that along with a few other comments at the White House, following a briefing by Janet Napolitano and FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. "I encourage all residents of the Gulf Coat to listen to local officials and follow their directions, including if they tell you to evacuate. We're dealing with a big storm. Now is not the time to tempt fate, and now is not the time to dismiss official warnings. You need to take this seriously." Obama had earlier declared a state of emergency in Louisiana. Meanwhile, Isaac gets nearer to hurricane status, per the National Hurricane Center's Twitter feed. Its latest tweet reads: "Tropical Storm # Isaac Intermediate advisory 29A issued. Reconnaissance aircraft find isaac nearly a hurricane" Read These Next North Carolina shooting suspect once walked the red carpet. The gunman who killed 4 at a Michigan church was an ex-marine. 'We heard a big bang,' says churchgoer in Michigan Skydivers leap from plane 2 minutes before fatal crash. Report an error