We had a storm blow into town right before 9 tonight and the gust front was impressive even here at Roseholme Cottage, a few miles north of the State Fairgrounds.
Past the tragic deaths and injures, the other part of the story is that the people at the event mostly dove right in and started trying to help; eyewitness reports and on-scene video show a mix of active bystanders, emergency responders and law enforcement all through the tangled mess, doing whatever they can for their trapped and injured fellows. On amateur video from the scene, there is a row of people lifting the fallen truss and helping to free audience members within seconds of it hitting the crowd. Makes me darned proud of my species.
First windspeed data is from downtown; Lucas Oil Stadium watches windspeed as part of their retractable roof setup and recorded a 53 mph peak about four miles south of the fairgrounds.
Update: Official estimates put the gust at "60 to 70 mph" as it tore through the fair.
Update 2, 15 August: Memorial services at the fairgrounds at 0900 today. The Fair was closed Sunday.
10 comments:
Saw the news online a bit ago, glad to see you posting and that y'all are ok!
You mean, proud of your race. I wanna see pics of who helped and who didn't. I mind the picture of white folks in London cleaning up the debris with black girl and black boy just standing there goofing. We are the only altruistic race. Yah, call me a racist, and make the most of it.
Just, what's this "we" talk, white boy? You need to GTFO, right now. You're talkin' bullshit; there are dark faces among the helpers. Not a whole lot (at a country & western concert, well, gee), but it only takes one to disprove your idiotic thesis.
--Oh, have you missed the times I have discussed my very mixed ancestry? Don't let the blue eyes fool ya.
Glad to hear neither of y'all we caught in the collapse.
Why would anyone want to bring up race at a time like this?
Sheesh. You are a sad little person, JTG.
Is it just me, or does there seem to be an awful lot of these stage collapses recently? Sort of a weird thing to get a spate of, but I guess the dice do come up snakes eyes three times in a row every once in a while.
WV: betatedi -- A stuffed bear relegated to the Island of Misfit Toys, of course.
Did anyone else think about the line that many proponents of armed self defense say when you saw all those folks jump in and start helping before anyone official showed up?
"We are all first responders."
We're a species of first responders. It's why we're not extinct
I've always been with be prepared way of thinking.
I've been one to assume if there I'll help any way I can. Over the years and all I've found being willing is good but being skilled/trained is better if not essential. Knowing what to do and how is what makes a good first responder. The training is available and often free.
Eck!
My heart rate jumped up about 30 bpm when I saw the towers twist. I've operated under Tomcat roofs like that for many, many shows, and I only saw that type of collapse in my worst nightmares (amazingly, only got evacuated once. Tore the skin off about 25% of the roof).
I pray for the victims. Good on the responders - official and otherwise - who dove in to the rescue. Once that roof hit the ground, it was an unstable rig. Very brave. Good on all of 'em.
tweaker
Post a Comment